RSG To Clamp Down On Unauthorised Youth Groups

The Rivers State Government has vowed to clamp down on unauthorised community/ethnic based youth organisations in the state.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Roland Obed Whyte, issued this warning in a statement, yesterday.
Whyte reminded communities in the state that youth organisations that fail to undergo the ongoing revalidation exercise by the ministry would not be allowed to operate in the state.
He said that the state government decided to carry out the revalidation exercise for youth groups in order to have a verifiable database of youth bodies in the state, and also to ascertain the credibility of the leaders of the youth bodies for purposes of accountability.
He, however, noted that some youth organisations still operate in the state without being duly revalidated by the ministry.
He warned such unauthorised youth groups to desist from operating in the state, adding that the ministry will not hesitate to blacklist any youth organisation that fails to comply with the directive.
He also said that the ministry would collaborate with security agencies in the state to apprehend any organisation that operates without appropriate approval from the ministry.

By: Ike Wigodo