No fewer than 20,000 youths across the 20 local government areas in Ogun State are to benefit from the Federal Government Special Public Works programme.

The programme, which is aimed at addressing the high rate of unemployment and rising insecurity in Nigeria, was kick-started in Abeokuta on Monday by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite.

Adegbite, while flagging off the exercise at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto Abeokuta, disclosed that the programme was designed to employ 1,000 persons in each of the Local Government Areas across the federation.

Arc. Adegbite said the initiative was an outcome of the pilot SPW programme in the rural areas, approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and implemented by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in early 2020.

He noted that the scheme would provide the necessary economic palliatives to 20,000 unemployed youths in Ogun State, adding that the strategy was aimed at shielding the most vulnerable from the ravaging effects of COVID-19 pandemic like extreme hunger, poverty and joblessness.

Speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun lauded the Buhari government for the special public works initiative, expressing optimism that it would go a long way in alleviating poverty.

Abiodun, who was represented by his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, noted that his administration had put in place various provisions for job creation in its public works sector.