2027: NYSC DG asks Army to guard corps members

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has urged the Nigerian Army to reinforce safety for corps members who will function advert hoc electoral officers within the 2027 common elections.

Nafiu emphasised that corps members should be protected earlier than, throughout and after the elections, explaining that their function within the electoral course of requires satisfactory safety ensures.

He made the enchantment throughout a courtesy go to to Major General Adebayo Babalola, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the Nigerian Army’s 81 Division.

Nafiu mentioned corps members would help the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in conducting the 2027 polls, making their security a key concern for the NYSC.

Nafiu additionally praised the GOC for prioritising the coaching, mentorship {and professional} growth of younger officers beneath his command.

He equally thanked the 81 Division for guaranteeing a secure atmosphere for NYSC actions all through its areas of operation in Lagos and Ogun states.

According to him, the comparatively peaceable safety situations in each states are because of the professionalism, expertise and dedication of the army and different safety companies.

Highlighting Lagos’s significance to the NYSC, Nafiu famous that the state hosts roughly 20 per cent of corps members nationwide, as between 45,000 and 48,000 corps members are posted to Lagos annually.

He additionally famous that Lagos and Ogun are among the many few states the place the NYSC can publish corps members to each native authorities space, not like some areas the place insecurity has made such deployments unimaginable.

“Lagos and Ogun states are some of the States in the country where we deploy Corps Members to all the local government areas. This is unlike some other states where security challenges have made it impossible for us to deploy to certain local government areas,” he mentioned.

Nafiu maintained that the NYSC had continued to learn from the beneficial safety ambiance created by the army formation, which has enabled the Scheme to hold out its tasks with out main disruptions.

He subsequently praised the officers and troopers of the 81 Division for his or her efforts in safeguarding corps members and sustaining a peaceable atmosphere for NYSC operations.

Responding, Major General Babalola described Nafiu’s appointment as Director-General of the NYSC properly deserved, whereas acknowledging the continued cooperation and help the Lagos State NYSC Secretariat had prolonged to the army.

The GOC assured the NYSC management that the Division would maintain its partnership with the Scheme, emphasising that the safety and welfare of corps members remained a precedence.