The national chairman of a major political party Abdullahi Umar Gabam has raised serious concerns over the growing rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria describing the situation as alarming and unsustainable. He made the remarks while addressing President Bola Tinubu urging immediate policy interventions to prevent long term social and economic consequences.
Gabam noted that millions of young Nigerians remain unemployed or underemployed despite possessing education skills and entrepreneurial drive. According to him the frustration among youths is deepening and could fuel crime insecurity and social unrest if not urgently addressed.
He stressed that unemployment is not just an economic issue but a national security concern. Gabam warned that idle youth populations are vulnerable to manipulation by criminal networks extremist groups and political opportunists.
The party leader called on the federal government to prioritize job creation through industrial expansion support for small businesses and investment in vocational and technical education. He also emphasized the need to align educational curricula with labor market demands.
Gabam urged the president to engage youths more directly in policy formulation stating that young people understand their challenges better and should be part of the solution. He added that empowering youths economically would strengthen democracy and national stability.
While acknowledging ongoing government initiatives he argued that their impact remains limited compared to the scale of the problem. He called for measurable targets timelines and accountability mechanisms.
Youth groups have welcomed the remarks saying they reflect widespread realities. Analysts say addressing unemployment will require coordinated efforts across federal state and private sectors.
