The governor of Niger state, Muazu Aliyu has identified youth idleness across the northern part of the country as the major cause of the recent security challenges in the region.

Governor Aliyu made this observation during the official flag off of the training of 300 youths in modern livestock and fish farming in Minna, Niger state.

He lamented the rising level of unemployment in the north which according to him has made youths in the region to be a ready tool for mischief makers.

This is coming at a time when fundamentalist insurgency is staged across cities in north by Islamist youths.

The youths from the 25 local government areas of Niger state converged on Minna to commence a two months training in livestock and fish farming production.

The Niger state Commissioner of Livestock and fisheries development, Mr Isah Vatsa noted that the training which is aimed at empowering youths across the state as part of the state government’s youth empowerment programme.

He appealed to the youths to make effective use of the opportunity of the training to empower themselves.

The Governor also expressed the hope that participants at the end of the training will join in the development of the agricultural sector of the country.

Some of the participants, who spoke to Channels TV, expressed their expectations at the end of the empowerment programme.