NYSC Relocates Orientation Camps in Kwara, Kaduna, Five Other States Over Security

By Emmanuel Kwada

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has relocated its orientation camps in several states, including Kwara, Kaduna, Kebbi, Borno, Gombe, and Plateau, as part of intensified efforts to protect corps members amid rising insecurity across parts of the country.

In a strongly worded statement responding to a controversial online report titled “Urgent: The NYSC Death Trap, Our Graduates Are Being Sold to Bandits,” the NYSC management firmly refuted allegations of negligence and denied the existence of any “ransom clause” in its operational framework.

The Scheme described the publication as misleading and an attempt to incite fear while undermining public confidence in one of Nigeria’s key nation-building institutions.

“There is no provision whatsoever for any ‘ransom clause’ in the NYSC Act, Bye-laws, or any official publication of the Scheme. This claim is entirely fictitious and should be disregarded,” the NYSC stated categorically.

The Scheme also clarified that Musa Usman Abba, whose case was highlighted in the report, is not a serving corps member, having completed his national service in 2023. While expressing sympathy for his family’s distress, the NYSC distanced itself from linking the incident to the Scheme.

On welfare and health support, the NYSC disclosed that it has spent over ₦500 million in the last five years on urgent medical interventions for corps members nationwide.

It further noted a long-standing Memorandum of Understanding with Capital Express Assurance Limited since 2004, which provides life insurance cover for all corps members — extending up to three weeks after service — in addition to enrolment under the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Addressing security concerns head-on, the NYSC acknowledged the prevailing national security challenges but emphasised its proactive collaboration with security agencies.

“Corps members posted to high-risk areas are provided with adequate protection, including military escorts,” the statement said.

It added that the relocation of orientation camps from vulnerable locations has been ongoing, with decisive steps taken since 2024 in the North West and much earlier in parts of the North East.

“In line with its duty of care, the Scheme has taken decisive steps to relocate orientation camps in states such as Kebbi, Kaduna, Kwara, Borno, Gombe, and Plateau to safer locations, ensuring the protection of both corps members and camp officials,” the NYSC explained.

The management criticised the author of the controversial article for failing to observe the basic journalistic principle of audi alteram partem (hear the other side), noting that no clarification was sought from the Scheme before the claims were published.

The NYSC urged the media and the public to always verify information before dissemination, warning that the spread of fake news undermines national institutions and erodes public trust.

Reaffirming its core mandate, the Scheme pledged continued commitment to the safety, welfare, and development of Nigerian youth, while working to promote national unity through the NYSC programme.

This latest clarification comes amid growing parental concerns and anxiety over the safety of young graduates deployed to volatile regions, even as the NYSC insists that robust measures are in place to safeguard participants.