The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has relocated its orientation camps in several states, including Kwara and Kaduna, citing ongoing security threats and a commitment to protecting corps members.
The move aligns with prior appeals from parents and education stakeholders who had raised concerns about placing graduates in high-risk rural areas.
In a statement issued yesterday, the NYSC noted that corps members posted to volatile regions “are provided with adequate protection, including military escorts”.
The statement, which addressed a recent controversial article alleging negligence and fictitious “ransom clauses”, stressed that these claims were inaccurate and misrepresented the scheme’s operations. “For the avoidance of doubt, the National Youth Service Corps categorically states that there is no provision whatsoever for any ‘ransom clause’ in the NYSC Act, Bye-laws, or any official publication of the Scheme”, the management said.
The NYSC also clarified a case cited in the report involving Musa Usman, also known as “Abba”, stressing that he is not a serving corps member, having completed his service in 2023. “Any attempt to link his situation to the NYSC is therefore inaccurate and a misrepresentation of facts”, the statement added.
Highlighting its commitment to corps members’ welfare, the NYSC noted its partnership with Capital Express Assurance Limited, providing life insurance coverage for all members, which extends up to three weeks after service completion. In addition, the scheme disclosed that over the last five years, it has spent more than ₦500 million on urgent medical interventions for corps members nationwide.
The relocation of camps comes amid heightened anxiety among prospective corps members and their families as the 2026 Batch-A (Stream 1) orientation exercise commenced. Public affairs analysts have called on both federal and state authorities to continuously review camp locations in volatile areas and enhance security for future exercises.
The NYSC reaffirmed that the relocations form part of a broader strategy to safeguard corps members and camp officials. “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”, the management said.
