In light of the growing security challenges, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has called for more soldiers to be deployed to its Orientation Camps across the country.
Amb. Fatima Abubakar the Chairman of the NYSC Governing Board, Amb. Said this on Thursday, April 1, 2021, while leading members of the board on a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.
She clarified that the need for further deployment stemmed from the increasing size of the camps and the complexities of the current security situation.
The board chairman also urged NYSC and the army to work together to ensure the safety of corps members during elections.
“We’re pleading with you to increase the number of troops at the NYSC camps because they’ve become too big in recent years.
“During orientation, we often have over 1,000 young men and women in a single camp, and we don’t have enough troops, particularly with the growing insecurity.
“We’re still afraid, and we hope nothing like that happens around our camps, but we’re begging for more troops to be posted around our orientation camps.
“We also want the army and the scheme to work together on capability and human resource growth.
“We also hope that during and after the orientation program, the army will teach safety and escape exercises to corps members and staff on topics of safety and security in the unfortunate event of an attack,” she said.
According to Abubakar the Nigerian army, which is the second-largest stakeholder in the NYSC system, has continued to play its statutory role by sending commandants to man NYSC camps.
She thanked the army for supplying corps members with minimal training and protection during orientation camps and national assignments such as elections.
Abubakar also praised the army for providing housing for corps members in different barracks.
The Chief of Army Staff, Attahiru, responded by praising the scheme for its ongoing efforts to instil discipline in youths by instilling in them a sense of loyalty to the government.
During orientation camps, primary assignments, and other national duties, Attahiru assured the Corps that the Nigerian Army will continue to provide adequate protection for all members.
To give youths a leg up, he urged the board to incorporate national patriotism and entrepreneurship into its programs.
“I assure you of the Nigerian Army’s continued support for NYSC in terms of providing appropriate and trained commandants, instructors, and soldiers during orientation camps, as well as providing protection to corps members in camps and their assigned areas.
“As a result, I encourage NYSC to include subjects on patriotism and entrepreneurial skills in its programs, which will go a long way toward enhancing development,” he stated.
