The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Ondo State Coordinator, Mrs Victoria Nnenna Ani has pleaded with prospective corps members deployed for national service not to embark on night journeys as they proceed to orientation camps.
The State Coordinator made the appeal in a release made available to newsmen in Akure, the state capital as she hinted that over 1600 prospective corps members are expected to converge on the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko for the three weeks orientation exercise.
Mrs. Ani said that the management of the Scheme in all its formations nationwide has embarked on aggressive sensitisation and advocacy against night journeys saying that NYSC values the lives of corps members more than anything and places premium on their security and welfare.
“I wish to reiterate the commitment of NYSC management about the security and welfare of members of the service corps. To this end, the Scheme is appealing to parents, guardians and road unions to discourage our vibrant youths mobilised for national service from travelling after 6 pm as we have longer night that day” she said.
“I need to emphasise the fact that this life-saving information is not meant for only the prospective corps members, it is equally to all the serving corps members and I want to let you know that we have carried out sensitisation through the Local Government Inspectors at their respective Council areas”.
The NYSC Ondo State boss said the managers of the Scheme in Ondo State has visited road unions such as National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and charged them to sanction their members who in a bid to maximise profit embark on needless night journeys at the expense of the precious lives of the patriotic Nigerians.
The State Coordinator while identifying with the media being a thoroughbred and prolific Public Relations expert thanked the media for attending promptly to programmes and activities of the laudable Scheme.
“The media is a special stakeholder to the Scheme since her establishment a little over 50 years ago and I still want to request for the maximum support of the media to ensure that this very important information gets to the intended audience swiftly. The Press has done it in the time past and I am confident that you will avail us your services again and again”.
On the level of preparations towards hosting the prospective corps members, the amiable administrator said that her office has visited all the security agencies in the state as well as paramilitary organisations to help beef up security in all roads leading to the camp in Ikare-Akoko and she has been assured of maximum security for not only those that are deployed to or serving in Ondo State but equally those that would be passing through the territory of the Sunshine State.
“I want to use this medium to appreciate in a special way, the Brigade Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Cantonment; the Commissioner of Police, the State Director of Security, Department of State Services (DSS), the State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Commander, Ondo State Security Network Agency, code named Amotekun as well as headship of Neighbourhood Watch, also known as Vigilante in Ondo State for their joint effort and collaboration towards ensuring that corps members are adequately protected within the nooks and crannies of the Sunshine State”.
Speaking on the state of the facilities at the camp, the NYSC Coordinator said that they have put in place facilities and infrastructures that will make the prospective corps members enjoy their three-week orientation course.
She assured the media of her support always but however, added that the newshounds should endeavour to cross-check facts with NYSC before rushing to the Press for publication.
The three-week orientation course programme will hold between Wednesday, 1st and Tuesday, 21st November, 2023.
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