Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Gombe State Government has assured 1,502 newly deployed National Youth Service Corps members of adequate security and welfare throughout their service year, with officials pledging that the state will prioritise the safety and wellbeing of the corps members as they begin their mandatory national service. The assurance came on Friday, October 2, 2026, during the swearing-in ceremony for the 2026 Batch C Stream I corps members at the temporary NYSC orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The batch comprises 803 males and 699 females, according to figures disclosed by the NYSC Gombe State Coordinator, Chinwe Nwachuku. The Commissioner for Youth and Sport Development, Abdullahi Waziri, represented Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya at the ceremony and conveyed the governor's message of goodwill to the new corps members. Waziri said the governor regretted not being able to attend in person due to other commitments and had assigned him to represent him and extend his message of goodwill to all the new corps members. "He wants them to feel at home and serve Gombe State with all their strength and commitment," Waziri said.
On security, the commissioner said the state government had continued to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of corps members. "Whenever corps members are coming, security is provided to ensure that their safety and wellbeing are maintained," he said. "Gombe is a peaceful state. They are in a good place where they can deliver their service diligently without fear of harassment or intimidation." He expressed hope that the next orientation exercise would be held at the permanent camp, acknowledging that the temporary facility has been used for successive batches while construction of the permanent site continues.
Governor Yahaya, in his message delivered at the ceremony, reaffirmed his administration's commitment to the safety, welfare and general well-being of corps members. "I assure you of the commitment of the state government to your safety, welfare and general well-being throughout your service year in Gombe state," he said. The governor described Gombe as peaceful and welcoming, urging the corps members to feel at home throughout their service year. He also acknowledged the need for additional government support to complement existing arrangements for corps members' welfare during the orientation exercise and assured them that the government would examine the matter and provide necessary support to improve their comfort. He urged the corps members to embrace the culture and diversity of their host communities, respect community values and contribute meaningfully to the development of their host communities throughout their service year.
The governor also addressed the ongoing construction of the permanent orientation camp, urging the corps members to exercise patience as finishing works continued. "Let me assure you that all necessary measures will be put in place to expedite the remaining works," he said. "It is our desire that future orientation courses will be conducted at the permanent orientation camp with the facilities and comfort corps members deserve." The temporary camp at Amada has been the subject of complaints from corps members in previous batches over the condition of hostels, leaking roofs and flooding during heavy rainfall. In June 2026, corps members at the camp raised the alarm over what they described as unsafe and degrading living conditions, with reports of flooded hostels and damaged personal belongings. The state government has since been working to complete the permanent camp, a project that officials say will provide a more conducive environment for future orientation exercises.
The NYSC Gombe State Coordinator, Chinwe Nwachuku, commended the governor for supporting the NYSC scheme, particularly through facilities provided at the orientation camp and additional funding for corps members' feeding. She appreciated the state government and other stakeholders for their commitment to the welfare of corps members serving in the state, and specifically thanked Governor Yahaya for the ongoing construction of the permanent orientation camp, describing it as a clear demonstration of his administration's commitment to youth development and the success of the scheme. Nwachuku, however, appealed to the state government to consider increasing its subvention to support the feeding of corps members during orientation courses, and she called for sustained monitoring of corps members across the state, noting that such support would complement the Federal Government's efforts in providing for their welfare.
The coordinator urged the corps members to contribute to community development and obey the law during their service year. "I expect them to give their best to Gombe State and make sure they leave their mark in terms of community development. They should also be good, law-abiding citizens of the state," she said. She charged them to approach the service year with open minds, discipline, enthusiasm and willingness to learn, and to comply with the rules and regulations governing the National Youth Service Corps.
The swearing-in ceremony marked the formal beginning of the orientation course for the new batch, which will run for the standard three weeks before the corps members are deployed to their primary places of assignment across the state's eleven local government areas. The orientation programme includes paramilitary training, citizenship education, leadership development, skills acquisition and community development activities designed to prepare corps members for their service year.
The assurance of safety and welfare comes amid broader concerns about the security of corps members across Nigeria, particularly in states facing insurgency, banditry and kidnapping. The NYSC has repeatedly moved orientation camps in high-risk states to safer locations, and corps members deployed to volatile areas are provided with protection, including military escorts in some cases. In Gombe, the security situation has been relatively stable compared with neighbouring states in the North-East, though the state has experienced isolated incidents of banditry and communal tension. The proposed establishment of the 27 Armoured Brigade and its subordinate formations in Gombe State, including the 271 Tank Battalion in Bajoga and another formation in Kaltungo, has been welcomed by the state government as a boost to security in the region.
For the 1,502 corps members beginning their service year in Gombe, the assurances from the state government represent a commitment that their welfare and safety will be protected during their time in the state. The NYSC scheme remains a rite of passage for Nigerian graduates, and the conditions under which corps members serve have been a recurring subject of public concern. The government's pledge to complete the permanent camp and improve facilities reflects an awareness that the quality of the orientation experience shapes the corps members' perception of the scheme and the state. As the new batch settles into camp life, the coming weeks will determine whether the promises of safety, welfare and comfort are matched by the conditions they encounter. For now, the state has made its commitment clear, and the corps members have been asked to feel at home.
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