BY EMEKA MAMAH
IGBO Youth Movement, IYM has advised the Federal Government to address the problems of youth unemployment if it must win the war against Boko Haram Islamic sect in the country.

President of the IYM, Evangelist Elliot Ukoh said it would be difficult for the government to address the issue of crimes without solving the twin issue of unemployment, adding and advised the Federal Government to stop treating youth unemployment as if the problem did not exist.

Ukoh in a telephone interview with Saturday Vanguard yesterday, said Nigerians were lucky that the army of unemployed youths have not really started causing havoc, as according to him, 70 percent of about 40 million unemployed youths were either unskilled or illiterates and therefore more vulnerable to criminal activities.

’’There are over 40 million unemployed youths in the country but government had been treating issues affecting them with kid gloves. About 70 percent of them are unskilled or illiterates, while the rest 30 percent are educated, and hence easier to control.

‘’The Federal Government is not serious on this very important issue. All they have been doing is window dressing, but the proper thing is to address the issue before you think of resolving the issue of Boko Haram successfully.

‘’What the government should do is to set up a Youth Development Commission, YDC. This commission should be saddled with the responsibilities of addressing issues associated with youth unemployment or idleness.