The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced the relocation of its orientation camp in Kwara State from Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, to the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following rising insecurity in the northern part of the state.
Confirming the development, the Kwara State Coordinator of the scheme, Mr. Onifade Olaoluwa Joshua, told reporters in Ilorin on Thursday that the decision was approved by the state government after serious safety concerns were raised by stakeholders.
According to him, the welfare and security of corps members remain the top priority of the NYSC. “We are fully prepared to host the orientation course, and the welfare of participants will be safeguarded. Soldiers and other security personnel will be deployed to guarantee the safety of corps members during the three-week exercise,” he said.
Onifade further revealed that corps members posted to Kwara State are expected to report for the orientation exercise between September 24 and October 14. He added that a delegation from the NYSC headquarters in Abuja would soon inspect the temporary venue at Kwara State Polytechnic.
The Nigeria Education News notes that the relocation became necessary due to worsening insecurity in Kwara North, particularly Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas, which have suffered repeated bandit attacks in recent months. These incidents have left dozens dead, displaced rural residents, and raised serious concerns about the safety of the Yikpata orientation camp.
In August, tension at the Yikpata camp reached new heights when corps members were ordered by soldiers to remain indoors after suspicious movements were detected around the facility. That incident triggered widespread fear among participants and heightened anxiety among parents across the country.
The decision to move the camp to Ilorin has been welcomed by many stakeholders who see the capital city as more secure and better equipped to handle the logistics of the orientation programme. The Kwara State Polytechnic, which will host the exercise temporarily, is expected to provide safer accommodation and improved facilities.
Onifade expressed gratitude to both the federal and state governments for their swift intervention and support in addressing the safety concerns. He urged parents and guardians to remain calm and assured them that everything was being done to ensure a smooth and successful orientation exercise.
He also called on corps members to focus on the goals of the programme, noting that the NYSC remains committed to its founding objectives of national unity, integration, and youth development. According to him, the temporary relocation would not affect the quality of training or exposure participants will receive.
Security experts in the state have commended the decision, stressing that the safety of young graduates should not be compromised. They argued that the recurring bandit attacks in Edu and Patigi had made Yikpata unsafe for hosting large gatherings like the NYSC orientation.
Residents of Ilorin have also expressed readiness to welcome the corps members, seeing the development as an opportunity to showcase the city’s hospitality and provide a safer atmosphere for national service.
With this relocation, the NYSC hopes to assure parents, guardians, and the general public that despite the challenges posed by insecurity, the scheme will continue to deliver on its mandate of building unity among Nigerian youths through service and shared experiences.
