By Emmanuel Afonne
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called on the Federal government to include the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare in the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 to ensure coordinated outreach in terms of awareness and welfare.
President of NYCN, Mr Solomon Adodo, made the appeal in a statement he issued in Abuja on Sunday.
Adodo said: “the Nigerian youths are already dying slowly under the biting pangs of hunger and this must be stopped through proper concerted efforts.
“There should be an immediate and direct release of relief materials and funds to all the 37 State Chapter Chairmen of the National Youth Council of Nigeria for onward distribution to the Nigerian youths.
“Nigerian youths should be fully and properly integrated into the activities of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 for faster and efficient results.
“It is importance that we alert the President that the Nigerian youths are the hardest hit by the stay at home directive which triggered a tactical shutdown of the economy.
“These youths were never captured amongst the poorest of the poor on account of the fact that they had means of eking a living for themselves howbeit on a subsistence day-to-day basis.
“This is no longer feasible and their lives are now in dire danger; this pressed situation might throw up unforeseen vicissitudes of grave implications if nothing is done to avert same,” Adodo said.
The NYCN president who commended the government for the proactive measures initiated to contain the spread of the dreaded disease, called on the youths to remain law abiding and shun all forms of crimes as government looks into their demands.
He also applauded government’s initiative to reach out to poor households amongst other worthy emergency measures to ease the adverse effects of the pandemic on the country.
“We call on all Nigerian youths to cooperate with the government at all levels and comply with constituted authority in our collective national interest.
“Government deserves our support now more than ever if we must win this war against COVID-19.” (NAN)
