No NYSC camp will be close over Covid-19 case -NCDC as NYSC set to deploy 6,000 corps members

By Edward Ejoh

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, says no orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, will be shut down as a result of positive Covid-19 case.

He disclosed that care and support will be given to the patient while activities continue, appealing that no one should be stigmatised.

The NCDC Director-General made this statement during a webinar held for the 2020 Batch ‘B’ prospective corps members getting ready for the mandatory 3-week orientation course.

He disclosed the Centre’s preparedness to collaborate with the NYSC in order to ensure that no corps member comes in harm’s way when camping resumes.

Ihekweazu noted that all the prospective corps members and camp officials shall undergo Covid-19 tests in order to ascertain their health status and in the event of anyone testing positive, corps members should not panic as adequate measures have been put in place in all the NYSC camps to manage such case.

Adding that prevention, detection, and prompt response are germane to the safe reopening of the 37 NYSC orientation camps nationwide as the scheme sets to reopen the facilities on Tuesday, November 10.

He commended the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, for his passion for youths, exemplified by his tenacity of purpose which facilitated the approval for the scheme to resume normal operations.

While noting that Covid-19 curve has continued to flatten in the country, he counselled that it is not yet celebration, praying the prospective corps members to exercise caution as the deadly virus is still around.

While re-emphasising the need to take personal responsibility, he admonished the webinar participants to desist from keeping aloof and waiting to be goaded before observing the precautionary measures against the dreaded virus. He challenged the participants to be the leader the country needs at this critical time.

Brigadier-General Ibrahim thanked the NCDC DG and his team for working tirelessly to safeguard the health of the nation, stating that there will be zero tolerance for risky behaviour that will compromise the health of the camps.

He also thanked the NCDC for the donation of Personal Protection Equipment, PPE, to the NYSC, pledging to put them to good use.

He urged the webinar participants to eschew fake news and encouraged them to always approach the camp management for clarification on issues of interest.

Meanwhile, a total of 6,000 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps are to resume for the 2020 “Batch B” one-year mandatory program of the scheme across the country.

Brigadier General Shaibu Ibrahim, Director-General of the NYSC, made the disclosure on Thursday, saying that the authorities had gone round the country to ensure that the facilities were ready.

He said, “We are prepared to deploy six thousand corps members to participate in the 2020 Batch B exercise. 

“We have gone around the country to ensure that the camps are also ready. 

“We are going to merge those who suspended their orientation in March to also participate for the forthcoming National orientation exercise.”