By Nkechi Eze
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has sought the Nigerian Army’s support in ensuring the safety of Corps Members who will serve as ad hoc personnel during the 2027 general elections.
Nafiu said the Corps Members would be deployed to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conducting the elections, stressing the need for adequate security before, during and after the exercise.
According to an official statement signed by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, the Director-General made the appeal during a visit to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola.
He commended the GOC for his welfare-oriented disposition towards Corps Members serving within the Division, as well as his commitment to the training and mentorship of young officers under his command.
Nafiu also expressed appreciation to the Division for providing a secure environment for NYSC operations across its areas of responsibility in Lagos and Ogun States.
He attributed the prevailing security situation in the two states to the diligence, professionalism and experience of the military and other security agencies.
The NYSC boss disclosed that Lagos State alone accommodates about 20 per cent of the Corps population nationwide, with between 45,000 and 48,000 Corps Members deployed to the state annually.
He further noted that Lagos and Ogun were among the few states where the Scheme deployed Corps Members to all local government areas, unlike some other states where security challenges had restricted deployment to certain locations.
Nafiu said the NYSC had continued to leverage the favourable security environment provided by the Division to discharge its responsibilities effectively, while applauding officers and men of the formation for their commitment to maintaining a safe environment for the Scheme’s operations.
