The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has proposed the suspension of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for a year to allow the scheme to be reorganised in response to insecurity.
Mr Abdullahi, a former Minister of Youth Development, however, told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday that the proposal was his personal view and not an official position of the ADC.
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“It was my personal view, and I was speaking as a former Minister of Youth Development that has managed that sector before,” he said in a telephone interview.
His clarification followed comments he made in an interview with PUNCH after the abduction of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
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Mr Abdullahi said the NYSC remains relevant to national integration but argued that the security situation requires a temporary suspension and reorganisation of the scheme.
“I think the NYSC is still relevant. But I think we need to respond to the current situation of insecurity in the country,” he said.
“If we were to advise the President, we think this is the time to suspend it for at least one year to give room for proper reorganisation, in such a way that it will protect the young people and also make the scheme worthwhile for them.”
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He said the problems the NYSC was established to address after the Nigerian civil war remain relevant but argued that its operation should reflect the country’s current security challenges.
Mr Abdullahi also questioned how a large group of prospective corps members could be abducted while travelling to their orientation camps and suggested that the attackers might have received prior information about their movement. He provided no evidence for the suggestion.
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Imo abduction
Mr Abdullahi’s comments followed Thursday’s abduction of prospective corps members and other passengers travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that gunmen attacked two buses around 6:30 a.m. along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The police said 10 victims were rescued following the intervention of security agencies, while efforts continued to locate those remaining in captivity.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, later told reporters that security operatives had used drones to locate the suspected hideout where about 19 prospective corps members were believed to be held.
Mr Bosso said security personnel could not immediately enter the location because intelligence indicated that the area had been mined with improvised explosive devices.
Families of the abducted prospective corps members have said the kidnappers reduced their ransom demand from N50 million to N5 million per victim.
Relatives also alleged that the captives were being assaulted.
The police said efforts to rescue the remaining captives were continuing.
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