The Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (PTAN) has called on state governors and the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to immediately relocate orientation camps from insecurity-prone rural areas to safer urban centres.
The appeal, made in a statement issued over the weekend, follows recurring incidents of abductions, vandalism, and attacks involving corps members in and around orientation camps. PTAN said while the NYSC’s mission of national integration remains vital, the safety and welfare of young graduates must never be compromised.
“Orientation camps bring together thousands of new graduates at once. Locating them in areas with weak security is a preventable risk,” the association stressed.
Security concerns drive demand
PTAN’s demand comes after Kwara State authorities recently shifted its permanent camp in Yikpata (Edu LGA) to Ilorin, citing threats of banditry. Other states have also been forced to relocate or restrict camp activities in response to security alerts.
Parents argue that relocating camps to urban centres would provide stronger security presence, access to tertiary hospitals, reliable infrastructure, and greater reassurance for families.
They proposed a compromise: while post-orientation assignments and community projects can still take place in rural areas, the mass-gathering orientation weeks should be hosted in secured urban venues.
A history of attacks
Over the past decade, dozens of corps members have been abducted en route to or within camps, with most incidents recorded in the last five years. Beyond kidnappings, camps have faced vandalism, power supply disruptions, and attacks on nearby communities.
In August, vandals damaged electrical installations at an NYSC permanent camp in Delta State just days before orientation, heightening safety concerns.
Experts, analysts weigh in
Security experts back PTAN’s position, recommending a risk-based siting policy and the creation of temporary urban hubs — using polytechnics, stadia, and university campuses — as safer alternatives.
Dr. Emmanuel Okoye, a security scholar, said orientation exercises must not become “recruitment grounds for criminal targeting.” He urged the NYSC to adopt a “safety-first” policy until rural security gaps are closed.
Costs vs. consequences
While relocating camps would require more funding for accommodation, transport, and logistics, PTAN and stakeholders argue that prevention costs are negligible compared to the humanitarian, reputational, and financial toll of abductions and attacks.
Analysts also recommended public-private partnerships (PPPs) and disaster-risk budgeting to support the transition.
Balancing safety and NYSC’s mission
Parents emphasised that their demand is not an attempt to weaken the NYSC’s mission of unity and rural development, but rather a call for practical safeguards.
They urged authorities to:
• Set minimum security thresholds before any camp opens.
• Prepare contingency rosters of urban venues for emergencies.
• Conduct regular audits of camp safety and publish the findings.
The PTAN appeal has reignited national debate about the future of the NYSC scheme. With increasing security incidents, parents warn that continuing to hold orientation camps in high-risk rural areas is no longer tenable.