Okada, Edo State – December 2, 2025 – The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has issued a strong advisory to its newly deployed corps members, cautioning them against travelling without official permission throughout their one-year national service. The warning is aimed at preventing avoidable tragedies on Nigeria’s increasingly dangerous highways.
Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, personally delivered the message while addressing the 2025 Batch ‘C’ corps members at the Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
In an official statement signed by the NYSC spokesperson, Gbenga Fanegane, the Director-General urged corps members to take full responsibility for their personal safety by remaining vigilant both at their places of primary assignment and during any movement.
He specifically directed corps members to:
- Obtain proper authorisation before embarking on any journey outside their place of primary assignment
- Completely avoid night travel under any circumstances
- Use only registered motor parks and approved transport companies
- Always verify information before sharing it on social media platforms
- Steer clear of social vices including cultism, cybercrime, drug abuse, thuggery, and other criminal activities that could endanger their lives or lead to prosecution
“Always get correct information and establish facts before circulating the same on social media platforms,” the statement quoted the DG as saying. “Also, abstain from cultism, cyber crimes, thuggery and other negative acts that could jeopardise your personal safety.”
The warning comes against the backdrop of persistent insecurity on Nigerian roads. In 2025 alone, thousands of lives have been lost to road traffic crashes, armed robbery attacks, and kidnappings for ransom, particularly along inter-state highways. Night journeys and unauthorised travel have repeatedly feature as common factors in incidents involving corps members.
General Nafiu, who has made security consciousness a cornerstone of his administration since assuming office, reiterated the same message in other South-South orientation camps including Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states during the ongoing 2025 Batch ‘C’ Stream I orientation exercise.
At the Edo camp, over 1,600 corps members listened attentively as the DG stressed that the NYSC scheme places the highest premium on the welfare and safety of its participants. He reminded them that the established protocol requiring corps members to obtain an official travel permit (commonly called “permission letter”) from their Local Government Inspectors remains mandatory and non-negotiable.
In addition to travel restrictions, the Director-General devoted considerable time to digital responsibility. He cautioned against spreading unverified rumours, fake alerts, or inflammatory content online, noting that such actions not only create unnecessary panic but can also attract legal consequences under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws.
Corps members were encouraged to use social media positively — to showcase their community development projects, promote national unity, and highlight the achievements of the NYSC scheme rather than engage in divisive or sensational posts.
The orientation camp in Okada has been a hive of disciplined activity since the three-week programme commenced on November 19, 2025. Daily routines include early morning parades, lectures on national integration, skill acquisition training, and cultural displays. The camp will close with the official swearing-in ceremony scheduled for December 9, after which corps members will proceed to their various places of primary assignment across Edo State and beyond.
General Nafiu’s visit also featured lighter moments. He joined corps members celebrating their birthdays during the camp period in cutting a ceremonial cake — a tradition that has become a morale booster in NYSC camps nationwide.
Before departing the camp, the Director-General inspected ongoing upgrades to facilities, including renovated hostels, water supply systems, and security infrastructure. He commended the Edo State Coordinator, Dr. Ifeoma Frances Ben-Ushie, and her team for maintaining high standards of discipline and organisation.
The NYSC management has assured parents and guardians that every necessary measure is being taken to protect corps members throughout the service year. Similar security briefings and warnings have been issued in all 36 states and the FCT where Batch ‘C’ orientation camps are currently holding.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with security and economic challenges, the NYSC remains one of the few institutions that still compels young graduates from diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds to live and work together for a full year. The scheme’s leadership is clearly determined to ensure that this noble objective is not undermined by preventable tragedies.
For the thousands of white-and-khaki-clad graduates currently undergoing orientation, the message from the Director-General is unambiguous: your safety comes first — obey the rules, stay alive, serve honourably, and return home whole.
