The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, is considering suspending the deployment of corps members to Cross River State due to the poor state of its orientation camp.
The concern was raised after a recent inspection tour of the Permanent Orientation Camp in Obubra by the Director-General of the scheme. According to a source within the NYSC who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, the DG expressed disappointment over the decaying infrastructure at the facility.
The source disclosed that the facilities were outdated and no longer meet the minimum standard required to host corps members for orientation exercises.
“After going through the camp facilities, we discovered that the facilities are old and no longer meet the required standards. As a result, the Director-General said there would be no further posting of corps members to Cross River until further notice. In fact, he is saying that the state needs a brand-new camp,” the source said.
The proposed suspension is expected to take effect after the ongoing 2026 Batch C Stream One orientation exercise. This means Cross River State may not receive corps members for the Stream Two exercise pending intervention.
The scheme is said to be seeking the urgent intervention of the Cross River State Government to rehabilitate or rebuild the camp.
Investigations revealed that the deplorable condition of the camp has already reduced its capacity. The facility, which previously accommodated about 2,500 corps members per stream, now takes just over 1,000. Reports indicate that over 700 corps members posted to the state are currently processing relocation to other states.
This is a sharp drop from the estimated 6,000 corps members the state is expected to receive annually.
The development is similar to a recent action in Niger State, where the NYSC suspended orientation activities due to ongoing renovation works at the camp in Paiko, following damage from a windstorm.
Efforts to get official reaction from NYSC headquarters and the Cross River State Government as of press time were unsuccessful.
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