In response to the menace of touting in the state, the Anambra State Government plans to reform and empower 3000 touts in the state with skills and funds to start up businesses.Â
This was part of the outcomes of an inter-ministerial meeting between the State Ministries of Youth Development and Homeland Affairs.
The State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, and his Homeland Affairs counterpart, Chikaodi Anarah, had kick-started the discussion.
The discussion however, escalated to another session, to seal the Touts Reformation and Redirection Initiative, with the Director of Special Anambra State Anti Touting Squad (SASA), Mr. Chukwuebuka Onwuemene, who represented the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs.
Speaking during the event, the Youths Commissioner, Hon. Agha Mba commended the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for his Anti-Touting Policy, which has drastically reduced incidents of touting in the State.
According to him, the activities of touts have caused colossal damage to the state, especially in security and the environment.
“The Governor has approved the Touts Reformation and Redirection Scheme as part of the 1Youth2Skills Solution, to ensure that touts are not only taken off the street but redirected to positive ventures through skills acquisition and financial empowerment for business start up,” he said.
Agha Mba pointed out that for the Touts Reformation and Redirection Scheme of 1Youth2Skills Solution to be successful, the Ministry of Youth Development would require maximum support from its Homeland Affairs counterpart, especially in the area of the provision of data on touts taken off the street by the Special Anambra State Anti Touting Squad (SASA). He stated that if the touts taken off the street are not properly channeled to positive ventures like skill acquisition, they will end up attacking their neighbors to survive.
The Commissioner went further to request the data of touts arrested in the 3 senatorial zones of the State for a boot camp and eventual engagement in the second batch of the 1Youth2Skills Programme.
Responding, the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, who was represented by the SASA, Onwuemene stated that the youths are majorly involved touting activities in the state, and getting them positively engaged will drop the touting population.
He described as strategic, the partnership with the Ministry of Youth Development, without which the Anti-Touting Programme of the State Government would amount to nothing.
Statistics showed that Anambra indigenes constitute only 20% of those in touting activities in the state.
Also, at the meeting, it was resolved that the Touts be categorized into two groups- Category A, comprising those who are addicted, who would undergo one-week rehabilitation and subsequent Value Re-orientation. At the same time, Category B would consist of those who will be given just Value Re-orientation and engaged immediately in the 1Youth2Skills Programme.
