Learn work or risk arrest, Okorocha tells youths

Unemployed youths in Imo State have been advised to enrol in the ‘Youth Must Work Programme’ of the state government to engage in viable activities.

Governo Rochas Okorocha of Imo State gave the advice at a Town Hall meeting he held with youths and people of Ikeduru and Mbaitoli Local Government areas of the state.

He said the current administration introduced the programme and other empowerment projects as part of measures to keep Imo State youths away from anti-social activities.

Okorocha said with the programme in place, there was no reason for any Imo youth to roam the streets or engage in anti- social activities.

He, however, warned that youths, who failed to engage in meaningful activities, would risk arrest by May.

The governor, who inspected projects at the two local governments in company with his deputy, Mr Eze Mmadumere, expressed optimism that the meeting would bring about new focus and programmes for the areas.

He said his government had put machinery in place to ensure that all projects initiated by the current administration were completed.

“I will not start any project that I will not finish. It is not in my character,” he said.

Okorocha assured the people that the state would continue on the path of progress in terms of infrastructure and social development.

He urged the people to resist any government that would put the free education and other current development programmes of the state government on the reverse.

The governor approved the building of 14 new primary schools for the people of Ikeduru and awarded the construction of two additional roads for the people of Mbaitoli as special packages.

He expressed regret that out of the 24.8-km road approved for Ikeduru at the cost of N1.48bn, only about five kilometres  had been tarred.