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Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, on Tuesday, said that
the high level of youth unemployment prevalent in the state will be addressed
by the agricultural empowerment scheme in the N450billion appropriation bill
for 2011.

Mr Fashola, at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed
Airport, Lagos, told journalists that the recently passed budget has provided a
better opportunity for the government to take agriculture more seriously.
“Education has always been our priority,” he said. “Agriculture was also a
priority. So, I wasn’t saying that for the first time. What I tried to
emphasize there was that the budget has given us the capacity to address more
seriously the problem of youth unemployment through the agricultural youth
empowerment scheme. There is a special provision in there.”

The governor explained that the budget gives room for graduates
to be involved in the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals, adding that
the state government is working towards getting the youths involved in
agricultural activities. “There are general provisions for adult farmers and
all of that, but there is a special provision for youth unemployment through
the agricultural youth empowerment scheme for graduates,” he said. “We are
moving them to an area where clearly young graduates have not looked enough.
There are enormous opportunities there; become young farmers, provide food for
this country and earn a respectable living from there.”

Fixing Lagos roads

Mr Fashola also promised residents of the state the government
plans to fix roads that are deteriorating, adding that people should express
confidence rather than talk down the administration. “Now, there is a plan to
fix all these roads and I can assure you that the road you are talking about is
already within our radar and I am the last person to want to say ‘go and do
this person’s road’ and all of that,” he said.

“Let the system work. We will get to you because if we start the
practice of running from this local government to that local government, it
becomes a fire fighting approach that does not yield the developmental result
that we want. I assure you, take my words for it, there is a plan and they are
already in your neighbourhood. So, if they haven’t got into your street, it doesn’t
mean they won’t get there.”