Kogi Youths Pull Out of Planned Nationwide Protest, Advocates Dialogue »

Youths in Kogi State have decided to opt-out of a planned nationwide protest, citing dialogue as a more effective means to address the challenges they face.

There has been a call for nationwide protest scheduled for 1st of August to show concern about the growing hardships and economic difficulties across Nigeria, which was expected to draw participation from various youth groups in the country.

The decision to avoid the protest was made known by the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi State chapter, who emphasized the importance of constructive engagement with authorities. At a press briefing held on Thursday at the Youth House in Lokoja, the NYCN Chairman, Comrade Benjamin Jeremiah, expressed the youths’ concerns but stressed that dialogue would be a more sustainable and peaceful approach to resolving their grievances.

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“We understand the frustration and hardship faced by many in our state and nation. However, we believe that dialogue with government officials and other stakeholders can lead to more lasting solutions than protests. We want to engage constructively and work towards practical steps that can alleviate the suffering of our people.”

He said the decision was influenced by several factors, including recent security concerns and the desire to avoid potential violence which would cause more harm than good. The apex youth group also point up the various agriculture, security and youth empowerment policies being implemented by the government of Ahmed Usman Ododo in the state which are geared towards ameliorating the suffering faced by the masses.

“We are concerned that the planned protest could be hijacked by unknown elements with intentions to cause violence. Kogi State, being the center of Nigeria, is particularly vulnerable, and any disruption here could have widespread consequences, worsening the hardships if movement and other activities are grounded.

“We have seen that the Kogi State government is currently implementing various policies aimed at boosting agricultural production, enhancing security, and empowering the youth. These efforts are designed to create jobs, increase food security, and provide opportunities for young people, thus addressing some of the underlying issues contributing to the economic difficulties. As youths, we are keen on not aiding people with bad intentions to disrupt this flow and set us aback, hence our decision to adopt a more peculiar and effective option of dialogue.”

While urging youths across the country to give president Tinubu time to fully implement his Renewed Hope Agenda, Comrade Jeremiah urged the president to immediately look into ways of improving the economic situation of the nation.