Hon. Kassim Muhammed Kassim, a prominent youth leader and former state legislator, disclosed that billions of naira intended for 1000 youths per local government area across Nigeria are stuck in banks due to discrepancies in Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN). These funds were allocated under the Special Public Works Empowerment Programme (SPWEP) initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Kassim, who served as the state coordinator for SPWEP in Nasarawa State, highlighted the nationwide scope of this issue in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu. He expressed deep concern over the execution and monitoring of federal government programmes aimed at empowering Nigerian youths. "The funds meant to uplift Nigerian youths have become trapped because of BVN and NIN discrepancies, leaving many beneficiaries unable to access the much-needed support," he stated.
Reflecting on his involvement in post-EndSARS protests, Kassim pointed out that the frustrations of Nigerian youths are partly due to the unresponsiveness of government officials. "It’s unfortunate that the two Ministers of Youth are inaccessible, with their phone numbers on ‘do not disturb’ mode. This has further alienated the youth, who are already disillusioned by the lack of communication and support," he lamented.
To address these pressing concerns, Kassim proposed several measures, including the creation of a Project Monitoring and Implementation Unit within the Presidency. "A Project Monitoring and Implementation Unit within the Presidency could recover these funds and ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries," he suggested. He also emphasized the need for creating economic environments conducive to youth entrepreneurship and ensuring accountability in state and local governments.
Kassim further recommended revisiting the allocation of recovered looted funds. "Rather than redistributing these funds, they should be directed towards transparent, impactful projects that directly benefit the communities from which they were stolen," he advised.
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