NYSC DG Visits Niger Camp After Storm Damage, Reaffirms Commitment to Corps Members’ Welfare
By Victor Idajili
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has restated the Scheme’s commitment to the welfare, safety and security of Corps Members, insisting they will not be compromised.
He spoke on Thursday while addressing 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream II Corps Members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Paiko, Niger State. The camp hosts Corps Members deployed to Niger and some dislodged from the FCT.
According to a statement by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, Gen. Nafiu said he cut short an official trip to Makurdi, Benue State, after receiving reports of damage caused by a late-night rainstorm at the camp. He led a team to the camp to assess the damage and commence immediate repairs on affected structures.
“While luxury is not expected on Orientation Camps, minimum standards must be met,” Nafiu said. He added that the NYSC is in talks with the Niger State Government to expedite repairs and upgrade camp facilities, assuring that “Corps Members will not be left stranded at any point.”
The DG praised the Corps Members for their discipline, noting that no images or posts of the damaged structures had appeared on social media.
During the visit, he reminded Corps Members of the Scheme’s core mandate of fostering national unity amid Nigeria’s diversity and urged them to build lasting friendships beyond the service year.
On the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, Nafiu said it equips Corps Members with viable skills for job creation and supplementary income, regardless of post-service employment status.
He further disclosed that the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream II Corps Members will be the first to serve as ad-hoc staff in the 2027 general elections. He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct the necessary training in due course but warned them against partisanship, thuggery, and other electoral offences.
“The NYSC is non-partisan. As members of the Corps, you are not permitted to participate in politics,” he cautioned.
Gen. Nafiu also advised Corps Members to observe safety precautions during the rainy season, citing the risks of storms and flooding.
Earlier, the NYSC Niger State Coordinator, Mrs. Martina Shuaibu Ibrahim, said 2,484 Corps Members — 1,241 males and 1,243 females — were registered for the Orientation Course. The number includes Corps Members dislodged from the FCT.
