Elections: NYSC DG visits security chiefs in Ibadan

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig.-Gen. Suleman Kazaure, on Monday paid an advocacy visit to Maj.-Gen. Fidelis Azinta, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan.

Speaking during the visit, Kazaure, who also visited the Director, Department of State Services (DSS) in Oyo State, Mr Abel Achi, said he was on an advocacy and sensitisation tour of corps members’ locations in preparation for the general elections.

He said that the visit was also to discuss corps members’ safety during and after the elections.

“The 2019 elections are near, some corps members will work as INEC ad-hoc officers, we want to ensure that they are adequately secured during and after the elections.

“We thank the army, other security operatives for the cordial relationship we have shared with them, we hope the good relationship continues,” he said.

He stressed that corps members would not be deployed to areas that wre not adequately secured.

Azinta, in his response, noted that the NYSC remains an important scheme in Nigeria as it binds the country together.

He underscored the need for everything to be done for the scheme to succeed.

Azinta gave an assurance that he would do his best to ensure adequate security for corps members under his command during and after the elections.

“We will do everything possible to make sure that they are protected, the corps members deployed to work in different areas will be given the phone numbers of our security officers assigned to the area.

“We will also ensure that the elections are violence- free, so people should not fear, they should come out and vote because there will be peace,” he said.

Azinta further urged the NYSC management to also discuss with traditional rulers, representatives of political parties and other relevant stakeholders on the safety of corps members.

Achi also promised that his command and the NYSC would continue to be partners in progress, adding that the safety of corps members was the military’s priority.

“We don’t take them for granted in any way, we will not only provide security for the corps members alone but also for NYSC staff.

“We have adequate security measures for their safety during the elections,” he said.

The director-general was accompanied by the NYSC Director of Special Duties, Mr Hilary Nasamu, the Director, Press and Public Relations Unit, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, and the Oyo state NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Emiola Ambekemo.