Sowore to FG: Scrap NYSC

The African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has called for the immediate suspension and eventual scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme following the abduction of prospective corps members in Imo State.

Sowore made the call in a post on X on Saturday, saying the abduction of young Nigerians travelling to their orientation camps highlighted the risks associated with compelling graduates to travel across the country for national service.

The prospective corps members were among passengers kidnapped on Thursday when gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in the Umunoha area of Imo State.

They were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The Imo State Police Command later announced that security agencies had rescued some of the victims, while efforts were ongoing to locate those still in captivity.

‘NYSC has outlived its usefulness’

Reacting to the incident, Sowore said the NYSC had “outlived its usefulness in its present form,” noting that he had maintained the position since his first presidential bid in 2019.

He said, “You cannot force young Nigerians to ‘serve their fatherland’ when the same country cannot guarantee their safety while they travel to their places of service.

“The NYSC should be suspended immediately and ultimately scrapped. In the meantime, all corps members should be given the option to serve within their states of origin.”

Sowore said graduates should not be required to travel long distances to unfamiliar locations to fulfil a compulsory national service obligation, especially amid the prevailing security challenges across the country.

He further proposed replacing the NYSC with a two-year voluntary National Job Corps under what he described as a “Sowore 2027 presidency”.

According to him, the proposed programme would provide opportunities in employment, skills development, public works, technology, agriculture, healthcare, education and other areas of national development.

“Young Nigerians need jobs, opportunities, skills and security, not compulsory deployment into danger,” he said.

Police intensify rescue operation

Sowore’s remarks followed intensified efforts by security agencies to rescue the abducted prospective corps members and other passengers.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation.

Two commissioners of police were also deployed to support the operation.