11,000 youths to benefit as FG unveils safe Nigeria initiative

The Federal Government has launched a new programme called the Safe Nigeria Initiative, aimed at empowering young people and reducing insecurity across the country.

The programme, also known as Youth Empowerment for Peace and Resilience, was officially launched on Tuesday in Abuja at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The initiative is being coordinated by the NCTC in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Major-General Adamu Laka, said the programme focuses on preventing insecurity by tackling its root causes such as poverty, unemployment and social exclusion.

According to him, the government plans to empower at least 11,000 vulnerable youths from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He explained that relying only on military force is not enough to achieve lasting peace. Crimes like terrorism, banditry and kidnapping often grow from deeper problems such as lack of jobs, trauma and poor social support.

The Safe Nigeria Initiative, he said, will provide young people with vocational skills, livelihood support, counselling services and civic education, helping them become productive members of society.

He added that youths who are economically empowered and socially included are less likely to be drawn into crime or violent activities, stressing that strong communities are key to national security.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mrs Delu Yakubu, said the programme supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She described it as a people-focused approach to security that emphasises skills training, economic empowerment and peaceful coexistence rather than the use of force.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said Nigeria’s large youth population is a major strength, but only if the government continues to invest in skills development.

He noted that skills acquisition is important for reducing unemployment, improving security and strengthening the economy. A skilled population, he said, also helps promote inclusion and long-term stability.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulateef Shittu, assured that state governments would support the programme through community involvement and proper coordination.

He said youth empowerment is not just a social issue but a national security priority that requires cooperation from all levels of government and society.