The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the federal government has kept its promise of providing jobs for teaming Nigerian youths.
The minister made the comment in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, at the South-South Town Hall Meeting organised by his ministry.
He noted that construction and ancillary workers have started returning to work in droves as contractors are mobilized back to the various road construction projects across the country.
He said the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Bode Sadu-Jebba road, Abuja-Lokoja road, Kano-Maiduguri road and the Loko and Oweto bridge linking Nasarawa to Benue have all resumed construction.
He revealed that work would soon commence on the 2nd Niger Bridge which, he said, is in this year’s budget, adding, ”As more and more road construction works resume in the days ahead, thousands of Nigerians will also be returning to work.”
The Minister also said the recruitment of 500,000 teachers had commenced through the online portal ‘npower.gov.ng’.
He also listed other direct job creation and training schemes that are ongoing now as the N-Power Knowledge, which is training 25,000 Nigerians in technology, and N-Power Build, which is training another 75,000 Nigerians in building services.
He further explained that the Federal Government is exploring the agricultural sector for massive job creation through the repositioning of the River Basin Development Authorities.
In his words, “Still talking about jobs, an agreement has been signed to reposition the River Basin Development Authorities within the next 18-24 months.
“The agreement between the River Basin Development Authorities and the Songhai Farms of Benin Republic includes the training of unemployed youths in integrated farm practice.
“This programme is complimentary to the upcoming Youth Agriculture Empowerment Programme being planned by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.”
