NYSC Members Decry Conditions at Cross River Orientation Camp as Deployment Review Loom

News in Brief:

— NYSC is reportedly reviewing the suitability of its Obubra orientation camp in Cross River State over deteriorating facilities, with members raising concerns about poor toilets, bathrooms and water supply.

— Governor Bassey Otu has ordered the temporary relocation of the camp to Akamkpa for comprehensive renovation and upgrading of the existing facilities.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is reportedly considering whether its permanent orientation camp in Obubra, Cross River State, remains suitable to receive corps members, following concerns over deteriorating structures and inadequate facilities.

According to a report, an insider disclosed that the scheme was reviewing the camp’s eligibility for future orientation exercises because its crumbling infrastructure and failing facilities no longer met acceptable standards.

During a visit to the camp, NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the conditions, describing the facilities as outdated compared with those at other camps he had visited. He allegedly warned that there would be no further posting of corps members to Cross River State until further notice and urged the state government to renovate the camp.

Former and Serving Corps Members Raise Concerns

The reported conditions have reportedly discouraged some prospective corps members from completing their orientation in the state, with some seeking relocation after arriving at the camp. The deteriorating infrastructure has also been linked to a reduction in the number of corps members received by the state during successive orientation streams.

A former corps member, who attended the Obubra camp in 2023, recalled experiencing significant limitations in the facilities available during his orientation.

“The structures in the camp, especially bathrooms and toilets, are really deteriorating, and the water sources in the camp are not in any way good. There are only a few taps in the camp, and they are not even close to the Ogoja hall where I stayed in,” he said.

This account highlights longstanding concerns about the quality of facilities available to young Nigerians undertaking the mandatory national service programme.

Potential Economic Impact on Obubra

A suspension of future deployments could have implications beyond the orientation camp, particularly for businesses and residents who depend on the periodic arrival of corps members.

Obubra’s local economy benefits from agricultural activities and small-scale trading, while orientation exercises bring additional demand for food, transport, accommodation and other goods and services. A sustained reduction in the number of corps members arriving in the area could therefore affect traders and service providers who rely on these spending cycles.

However, the reported deployment review does not necessarily mean the NYSC has permanently excluded Cross River State from receiving corps members. The scheme has previously adopted security-sensitive deployment measures in response to risks in certain locations, including restrictions affecting non-indigenes.

Following the concerns over the camp's condition, the Cross River State Government announced plans to rehabilitate the permanent facility.

On October 15, 2026, Governor Bassey Otu ordered the temporary relocation of the orientation camp from Obubra to the University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Akamkpa to allow comprehensive renovation, remodelling and upgrading of the existing facilities.