NYSC DG Seeks 5,000-Capacity Orientation Camps as Annual Corps Population Hits 450,000

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has called on state governments to expand their Orientation Camps to accommodate at least 5,000 Corps Members each, following a significant increase in the number of graduates mobilised annually for national service.

Nafiu made the appeal while addressing Corps Members deployed to Lagos State for the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream II service year at the NYSC Temporary Orientation Camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.

According to a statement by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, the Director-General attributed the accommodation challenges facing the Scheme to the growing number of tertiary institutions and graduates in the country, as well as increased participation by Nigerians who obtained their qualifications from foreign institutions.

He disclosed that the NYSC initially mobilised about 100,000 graduates annually when most of the existing Orientation Camps were constructed. However, the figure has increased to approximately 450,000, putting enormous pressure on the available facilities.

“Before now, we used to mobilise about 100,000 graduates annually, and that was when most of the Orientation Camps in the country were built. Currently, however, we mobilise up to 450,000 graduates. This means that the population we have to cater for is far beyond the carrying capacities of the existing structures,” he said.

The NYSC boss commended state governments making efforts to address the infrastructure deficit, particularly the Lagos State Government, which is constructing a new permanent Orientation Camp with a capacity for 10,000 Corps Members.

He expressed optimism that the facility, upon completion, would significantly ease the accommodation challenges currently confronting the temporary camp at Iyana Ipaja.

Nafiu also disclosed that Adamawa, Gombe and Borno States were at advanced stages of completing new Orientation Camps, while existing facilities in Sokoto, Kwara, Enugu, Osun and other states were undergoing extensive renovations to improve the welfare and comfort of Corps Members.

He stressed that upgrading Orientation Camps across the country to accommodate at least 5,000 Corps Members per state would provide a more sustainable response to the Scheme's growing demands.

Beyond infrastructure development, the Director-General urged Corps Members to embrace national unity and integration, describing these as the fundamental principles upon which the NYSC was established in 1973.

He encouraged them to build enduring relationships across ethnic, religious and cultural divides, urging them to exchange contact details and sustain friendships beyond their service year as a way of promoting national cohesion.

On economic empowerment, Nafiu advised the Corps Members to take advantage of the Scheme's Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to acquire vocational and entrepreneurial skills that would promote self-reliance.

He emphasised the need for young graduates to develop multiple sources of income, noting that practical skills and entrepreneurship could provide greater financial stability amid prevailing economic challenges.

The NYSC Director-General also urged the Corps Members to remain security-conscious and vigilant, particularly when moving around unfamiliar environments.

He advised them against moving alone without informing their colleagues and urged them to notify their Corps Liaison Officers (CLOs) of their movements and share their locations upon reaching their destinations.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Christiana Salmwang, disclosed that 11,155 Corps Members had been deployed to the state for the 2026 Batch ‘C’ service year.

However, only 4,380 were accommodated at the Iyana Ipaja Orientation Camp, while the remaining 6,775 were deployed temporarily to neighbouring states, including Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Kwara and Delta, to complete their Orientation Course due to limited accommodation.

Salmwang clarified that the affected Corps Members would return to Lagos for deployment to their respective Places of Primary Assignment after completing the Orientation Course.

She commended the Lagos State Government for its continued support for the Scheme and commitment to improving the welfare of Corps Members.

The NYSC said the Director-General's engagement was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Scheme's operations, address infrastructure challenges and improve the overall service experience for Nigerian graduates.