Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, Director‑General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has issued a stern warning to corps members across the country, declaring that participation in the mandatory one‑year national service does not exempt anyone from Nigeria's cybercrime laws. Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, 28 May 2026, in Abuja, Nafiu emphasised that corps members remain citizens of Nigeria and are therefore fully subject to all constitutional provisions and extant laws regulating online conduct, cyber activities, and public behaviour nationwide.
“The fact that they are corps members does not absolve them from being citizens bound by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Nafiu stated. “If someone says you cyberbullied him or her, the police will arrest you with your NYSC identity card, and you will bear that responsibility.”He explained that allegations of cyberbullying involving corps members would be investigated and handled by relevant law enforcement agencies in line with the law, regardless of the individual’s status as a serving corps member.
The NYSC DG clarified that the scheme is not mandated to provide legal representation for corps members who face criminal or civil charges arising from social media activities or other online engagements. “I am not funded to provide legal representation for you in court,” he said. “What we do is engage the Legal Aid Council to monitor proceedings.”He noted that the Legal Aid Council could provide pro bono legal services where necessary, particularly during investigations or court proceedings.
Nafiu disclosed that the NYSC has intensified sensitisation campaigns aimed at educating corps members on the responsible use of social media and digital communication platforms, driven by growing concerns over cyberbullying and online misconduct among young Nigerians. “The rule of the game has changed,” he warned. “You cannot just go online, calling out people because someone can accuse you of cyberbullying.”While acknowledging that the NYSC does not oppose content creation, the DG stressed that all online activity must be conducted responsibly and within the bounds of the law. He noted that by the end of 2026, the NYSC will begin mobilising only Generation Z graduates, a cohort that is highly active on digital platforms. “We know this generation loves content creation, and we are not against content, but there must be proper context and responsible engagement,” he said.
The warning comes amid persistent concerns over the increasing involvement of young Nigerians, including some corps members, in internet‑related crimes such as online fraud, identity theft, and cyberstalking. Legal experts have noted that Nigeria's Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act provides for severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for offences such as cyberbullying and defamation. The NYSC, established in 1973 to foster national unity and integration, has seen over 17 million graduates pass through its scheme. Under Nafiu's leadership, the scheme has increasingly focused on preparing corps members for the responsibilities of digital citizenship alongside their physical deployments.
Additionally, Nafiu reiterated the importance of corps members' participation in the electoral process, describing their role as ad‑hoc staff during elections as “more noble” than merely casting a ballot. “It is more noble to serve as election ad‑hoc staff than merely casting your ballot because you are facilitating credible elections for millions of Nigerians,” he said.He urged corps members to view election assignments as opportunities to directly strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
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