Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru yesterday said that to end insecurity and hunger in the country, leaders across the country must begin to engage and empower the youths to make them self-reliant and shift their attention from crimes and criminality.
Governor Nwifuru made the disclosure when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions paid him a courtesy visit at the old government house Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Governor Nwifuru, represented by the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Moses Odunwa said that the state government is committed to reducing crimes in the state adding that the state government has empowered thousands of youths to make them self-reliant and to enable them channel their mind and energy towards more productive ventures.
He maintained that the state government has commenced the construction of a new custodial centre in the state to decongest the existing ones, adding that a law has been enacted by the Ebonyi State Prison that gives room for alternative dispute resolution law.
Earlier, the committee chairman and the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Hon Chinedu Ogah said that the committee members were in the state to oversee the different custodial centres in the state with a view to making recommendations to the relevant authorities to enhance professionalism and the welfare of the inmates.
Hon Ogah said that the committee was displeased with the quality of job at the custodial centre headquarters in Abakaliki adding that he has already communicated the controller-general of the Correctional Services to direct the contractors handling the project to return to site and ensure the completion of the project.
