Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State has set up a programme to curb youth restiveness and violence in the community and foster a civic culture among the younger generation.

The Chairman of the Local Government, Ganiyu Egunjobi, in a statement on Thursday said the programme was borne out of his administration’s commitment to the fight against crime, eradicate youth aggression and violence synonymous with the area.

Egunjobi said the activities of the infamous Awawa cult and the attack on two police stations in the community by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protest were wake-up calls for his administration.

He said the council embarked on the programme to rededicate itself to the issue of crimes besetting the area and an attempt to find a lasting solution to the nagging problem.

“It is a move to take gangsters and young criminals off our streets for reformation and reduce to the barest minimum crime rate in Agege by offering youths disposed to crime a window of opportunity to acquire vocational skills, find their lost moral compass and get a monthly stipend of N10,000 each,” Egunjobi said.

The council boss explained that the 250 youths drawn from all the seven wards across the council area had been enrolled in the pilot scheme.

He added that they would equally be taught civic education to become responsible citizens contributing positively to the development of the community.