Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu says Phase 1 is complete as 1,753 corps members begin their orientation exercise in Bende

Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, inspected the NYSC Orientation Camp in Umunna, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Abia NYSC camp renovation as 1,753 corps members participated in the 2026 Batch B Stream 2 orientation exercise.

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Nafiu said the facility had undergone a significant transformation since his previous visit, when he described the camp as being in a poor condition.

“I visited the corps members to assess first-hand the progress of the 2026 Batch B Stream 2 orientation exercise that is ongoing. The last time I came here, the facilities were in a terrible state. But today, at least Phase 1 of the renovation exercise has been concluded,” he told journalists during the inspection.

The NYSC director-general said Phase 2 of the renovation would commence after the completion of the first stage, while stressing that improving the camp was important to providing corps members with a suitable environment during their orientation.

The visit also highlighted the broader role corps members play in Abia beyond the confines of the camp. Nafiu said young Nigerians deployed to the state were contributing to healthcare, education and engineering, while also promoting national integration.

According to him, more than 53 doctors and 112 nurses serving through the NYSC were currently deployed across Abia State, alongside corps members working as teachers and engineers.

“These people are here to serve the nation. They are here to integrate into society and foster national unity and cultural cohesion. They are here to learn from the people of Abia State,” Nafiu said.

He urged corps members to respect the customs and values of their host communities and encouraged residents to embrace the young Nigerians posted to the state.

“My charge to them is that they should be good guests. Respect the culture, the values of the people of Abia State,” he said.

He also appealed to residents to treat the corps members as members of their wider communities, saying the experience should create opportunities for cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

The director-general stressed that stronger cooperation between the NYSC and the Abia State Government would be necessary to maximise the benefits of the scheme.

Nafiu said he was scheduled to meet Governor Alex Otti after the camp visit, where he intended to present additional requests concerning the scheme’s operations in the state.

“His Excellency has been responsive, but we will discuss further,” he said.

At the camp, NYSC State Coordinator Yunusa Tanimu disclosed that 1,753 corps members had registered for the orientation exercise. The group comprises 760 males and 993 females.

Tanimu described the corps members as disciplined, enthusiastic and adaptable to the structured nature of the orientation programme.

He said lectures, parade drills, military manoeuvres, sporting activities, social events and the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme were progressing smoothly, with corps members actively taking part.

Healthcare has also remained a key component of the exercise. Tanimu said the camp clinic was being managed by 12 medical doctors, 19 nurses, 13 pharmacists and 21 other health personnel.

A doctor and a nurse from the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, were also supporting the camp medical team in attending to the health needs of corps members and other members of the camp community.

Security arrangements around the facility, meanwhile, had remained relatively stable, according to the state coordinator.

He said the NYSC was working with security and law enforcement agencies to improve intelligence gathering, access control and general security within and around the camp.

The inspection also provided an opportunity to highlight improvements carried out since Tanimu assumed office.

He said 251 plastic chairs were procured during the 2026 Batch B Orientation Course, with an additional 110 chairs purchased for the ongoing exercise.

The entrance and outer walls of the camp have also been painted and decorated with NYSC inscriptions, giving the facility a more defined institutional appearance.

Another notable improvement is the construction of a ramp at the multipurpose hall, providing wheelchair access to the stage. The measure reflects the NYSC’s policy of promoting greater inclusivity within its facilities.

The improvements come as the NYSC continues to balance its traditional orientation mandate with the practical needs of corps members serving in communities across Nigeria.

For the corps members in Abia, the exercise offers an introduction to the state and its people before their deployment to their places of primary assignment.

For the NYSC, the progress at Umunna offers an encouraging indication that the camp’s longstanding infrastructure challenges are gradually being addressed, although the planned second phase means further work remains ahead.

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The combination of improved facilities, expanded healthcare support, security coordination and accessibility measures is expected to create a more supportive environment for corps members as the 2026 Batch B Stream 2 orientation exercise continues.