The National Youth Service Corps has advised Nigerian parents and guardians to provide extra travel funds for prospective corps members heading to orientation camps across the country.
NYSC Director-General, Olakunle Nafiu, gave the warning during a forum organised by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, stressing that many corps members put themselves in danger by trying to complete long journeys without stopping to rest.
According to him, some prospective corps members spend all their transport money on a single trip and refuse to break their journeys, even when travelling late into the night becomes risky.
Nafiu warned that such decisions could expose them to kidnapping, robbery and other security threats often linked to night travel in Nigeria.
“It is safer to stop and continue the next day than risk travelling through dangerous routes at night,” he advised.
The NYSC boss urged corps members to start preparing for camp immediately after receiving their call-up numbers instead of waiting until the last minute.
He also reminded them not to travel after 6 pm, encouraging them to find safe places to rest whenever journeys become too late or stressful.
To improve safety during mobilisation, Nafiu revealed that the NYSC has increased collaboration with security agencies including the Nigerian Police and the military.
According to him, security patrols, checkpoints and escorts have been strengthened in some difficult areas to protect corps members travelling to camps nationwide.
The director-general also warned prospective corps members against paying money to anyone promising to influence their postings.
He explained that NYSC deployment is done automatically through the official system and cannot be manipulated illegally.
Nafiu added that only married female corps members and those with verified medical conditions are eligible for special consideration regarding postings.
Source: NAN
