N’Central youths pull out of planned nationwide protest

Over 60,000 youths under the aegis of the Arewa Integrity Group for Good Governance in the North Central region of the country have declined to participate in the planned nationwide protest slated for 1 August.

The Federal Government held a series of meetings with several youth groups to shelve the protests and give President Bola Tinubu’s administration more time to execute people-oriented programmes.

In a statement made available to journalists in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Friday, the group’s leader, Joseph Maiwada, said they decided to withdraw from the protest to give the Federal Government a chance to address the citizens’ needs and sustain the existing peace in the region and country.

He added that another reason for shelving the protest was due to the several appeals made to youth groups by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who hails from the North Central region.

The statement reads in part, “The Secretary to the Government of the Federation has appealed to notable youth groups and some pressure groups around the North Central zone of the country, and he has reassured us of the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of the citizens.

“We are willing to pacify our people to back down from the protest because the SGF has always stood with us and supported our cause.

“So, we have mobilised over 60,000 members of the group to withdraw from the protest in order to ensure that we all continue to live in peace and unity in the country.”

Maiwada, therefore, advised other organisers of the nationwide protest to shelve their plans, adding that it would not benefit the nation, considering the negative effects of past protests on many citizens and their means of livelihood.

“Instead of embarking on the protest, I urge the youths to support the efforts of the federal government to address the socio-economic challenges facing the country,” the statement added.