The National Youths Service Corps in Ondo State has said it’s partnering with relevant security agencies to secure the lives and property of corps members undergoing the one-year mandatory service year in the state.
The state NYSC coordinator, Sam Pepple, disclosed this at an interactive session with some journalists on Tuesday in Akure, the state capital.
The partnership is coming amid reports of attacks on corps members serving in some parts of the country.
Mr Pepple said the management of the scheme in the state met with the heads of the security agencies in the state which included police, State Security Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and Amotekun to protect the corps members and map out security routes for them.
He said, “We talk with security agencies, mapping the routes prospective corps members will follow. So, we have done our homework like we always do.
“I have been interacting with the Director of DSS, the state Commissioner of Police, the commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Ondo State Security Network Agency codename Amotekun Corps.’’
He also stated that the orientation camp located at Akoko, in the Akoko North-East Local Government Area of the state, needs urgent revamping and renovation.
According to him, the camp which is as old as the state, is now begging for attention as its facilities are weak and need repairs.
He pleaded with the state government to assist the scheme towards building modern facilities for corps members.
He said, “You know Ondo State is one of the oldest states in Nigeria. I can tell you that the facilities in that camp are old without mincing words. Let us say it the way it is. They are old and I am just new here but I know.
“I am trying to talk with the state government because the provision of an orientation camp is the statutory duty of state governments as enshrined in the NYSC Act. I am trying to let them know and see. During the last camp, I took the new commissioner for youth development and sports, Saka Yusuf Ogunleye around the camp to see how old the camp is so that the state government can come in and refurbish,” he said.
Noting that the scheme was also preparing for an orientation programme for 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream I corps members deployed to the state for service, Mr Pepple urged the prospective corps members to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations guiding their stay.
He added, “Besides, we just came back from a pre-orientation workshop. Before we start an orientation programme, a relation course will first take place before we start the mobilisation process. After the mobilisation process, we do the deployment, after the deployment, we do pre-orientation. So, we do pre-mobilisation which involves workshop and cutting grey areas.’’