26th April, 2018
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday called on well-meaning Nigerians to promote peace and guide the youth to shun violence and drug abuse.
Zubairu Galadima-Soba, Kaduna State NOA Director made the call during an interactive programme with stakeholders in Kujama, Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
Soba stated that the programme was aimed at sensitising youths, parents and other members of the community on the importance of peacebuilding and the preservation of public assets.
“The youths have been craving for guidance, that is why the National Orientation Agency is organizing sensitization and awareness programmes in the 23 LGAs of the state.
“Our major concern is the youths who are the ones involved in drug abuse, political thuggery and other social vices.
“We are calling on them to shun all criminal activities and come out to contribute to national development.
“We hope that the youth will inculcate the spirit of patriotism by protecting and preserving government properties which belong to the public “, he stressed.
In her remark, the Chairperson, Chikun Local Government Council, Mrs Victoria Jatau urged parents to support security operatives by guiding and monitoring their children as “charity begins at home”.
“Parents must monitor their children and the kind of friends they associate with; if you cannot control your child, then the security agents will”, she warned.
Jatau also urged youth to be patient with the unemployment and hard economic situation of the country and find ways of embracing entrepreneurship to sustain themselves.
Earlier, security agents present at the event had emphasized on the need for people to support them in building peace by reporting suspicious persons around them.
The Divisional Police Officer of Sabon Tasha, Mr Dimkpah Ikeh stated that the police were doing their best to halt criminal activities and bring peace to the state.
Ikeh called on traditional and religious leaders to help the security agencies through preaching peace and love to their subjects and followers.
Also, Sadiq Abubakar, head of the Department of State Security Service in the local government stated that peacebuilding shouldn’t be left to security operatives only, but be regarded as a collective responsibility.
“All hands must be on deck to ensure peace in Kaduna state, criminals living in our communities must be fished out to restore sanity in our communities”, he said.