NYSC Advises Parents to Provide Extra Travel Funds for Corps Members

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Olakunle Nafiu, has urged parents and guardians to provide sufficient transport funds for prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps across Nigeria.

He gave the advice on Wednesday during a forum organised by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, stressing the importance of prioritising safety during the mobilisation process.

According to Nafiu, many corps members often spend all their transport money on a single trip and refuse to stop for the night even when travelling conditions become risky. He warned that such decisions expose them to serious security threats, including kidnapping, robbery, and other dangers associated with night travel.

The NYSC boss explained that it is safer for corps members to break their journeys and continue the following day instead of travelling late into the night.

“It is better for parents and guardians to provide extra transport money for their children so they can stop over safely when necessary instead of exposing themselves to danger,” he said.

He also advised prospective corps members to begin travel preparations immediately after receiving their call-up numbers in order to avoid last-minute movement and unnecessary risks during nationwide mobilisation exercises.

Nafiu revealed that the NYSC has strengthened collaboration with security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the military, to improve the safety of corps members travelling across the country.

According to him, security measures such as patrol operations, intelligence sharing, escorts in difficult areas, and increased surveillance along major travel routes have been intensified to ensure corps members arrive safely at orientation camps.

The director-general further warned prospective corps members against paying money to individuals claiming they could influence postings. He clarified that NYSC deployment is handled automatically through the scheme’s official system.

He added that only legally married women and corps members with verified medical conditions are eligible for special deployment considerations closer to their families or healthcare facilities during the service year.

The NYSC has repeatedly advised corps members to avoid travelling after 6 p.m. and to always prioritise personal safety during interstate journeys.

The statement comes amid growing security concerns in several parts of the country, with authorities continuing efforts to improve protection for citizens travelling nationwide.