Isaac Job, Uyo

 

Worried by dilapidated facilities occasioned by inhuman conditions at Orientation Camp for National Youth Service Scheme in Akwa Ibom, the Director General of the scheme, Brig. General Suleiman Kazaure has appealed to the state government to improve facilities in the camp to forestall outbreak of epidemic in the camp.

 

Represented by  the Director of Research, Planning and Statistics, Victoria Okakwu, Kazaure said that provision of facilities at the NYSC orientation camp in Ikot Itie Idung , Nsit Atai council area of Akwa Ibom was the  direct responsibility of the state government .

 

“The provision of adequate facilities in all orientation camp is the responsibility of State Government.”

 

“We will intensify efforts to get Akwa Ibom State Government to see the need to do the needful and improve on the facilities in this camp to meet the required standard.”

 

“While I was going round, I discussed with the State Coordinator to interface with the state government to provide a befitting camp facilities as it is in Delta state,” Kazaure said.

 

He advised corps members to remain patriotic in delivering their services to their fatherland as they have no other country than Nigeria.

 

Kazaure further charged corps members to embrace the skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to become entrepreneurs and create jobs instead of waiting for non-available white collar jobs.

 

Kazaure also warned corps members against indulging in illegal activities during the service year, stressing that the scheme has mechanism to punish erring corps members and reward excellence.

 

He said, “Be law abiding and disciplined, take your training very seriously. When you are at the right place, doing the right thing, desert will turn to water fountain for you. ”

 

The State Coordinator, Julius Amusan said that 2, 091 corps members have been registered during the 2019 Batch A orientation exercise.

 

He said out of that number, 1,064 are male while 1,027 are female, adding that 107 corps members have been considered for instant relocation.

 

He said that the scheme in the state would continue to appeal to the state government to see the need to complete the ongoing 250 capacity hostel block, toilets and bath rooms.

 

He lamented that the camp over the years relied on generating plant to provide electricity in the camp as public power remains epileptic.

 

“In spite of reaching out to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) by paying for energy upfront, we have not enjoyed corresponding response from them.

 

“In fact, we have only enjoyed supply from them for three hours since the commencement of the orientation course,” Amusan said.