The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has called on all state governments to develop a state action plan on youth, peace and security for national development.

Olubunmi Olusanya, the ministry’s permanent secretary, made the call at the assessment and progress report workshop on the implementation of the national action plan in Yola on Saturday.

The workshop is in collaboration with the Nigeria Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security.

Mr Olusanya, represented by assistant director, Adedoyin Oyekan, said the workshop was designed to evaluate the domestication process of the UNSCR 2250 in Nigeria.

“States that are yet to commence the process of developing their State Action Plans (SAPs) should promptly rise up to the occasion and get to work.

“While states that have started the process are encouraged to expedite action to ensure completion in order to speed up the implementation process, as it cascades to the grassroots,” said Mr Olusanya.

He said these would ensure the objective of inclusivity of the youth in the maintenance of peace and security across Nigeria achievable.

According to him, the implementation exercise is expected to cut across all the local government areas, beginning with pilot states of one state from each of the six geopolitical zones.

“It is only in such a peaceful and rancour-free society that we can have a country of our dreams, where the youth will be able to excel with their potentials, in a politically stable country with virile economic development”, he said.

In his remarks, Michael Ngula, the director of youth development, Ministry of Youth and Sports in Adamawa, said an agenda and commitment by the government to recognise and amplify the roles of young people as key stakeholders in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and sustainable development were necessary.

According to him, in Adamawa, the government has taken significant strides toward ensuring youth are not only participants but leaders and drivers of peace processes.

(NAN)