NYSC begins 6th orientation since camp reopening

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Wednesday began its sixth orientation course since November 2020, when its camps were reopened after closure due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu, made the disclosure at a news conference at the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ibrahim was represented by the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi.

He said that the conference was to dispel public misinformation by providing safe camp reopening measures.

Ibrahim said that since NYSC camps were reopened in November 2020, the scheme had completed five orientation courses with support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“The NYSC reopened its orientation camps across the country in November 2020.

Between that time and now, we have held five orientation courses without COVID-19 infractions.

“The orientation commencing on Sept. 1, 2021, is the sixth exercise we are having since the camps reopened.

“The scheme continues to implement all non-pharmaceutical interventions such as use of face masks, social distancing and hand washing, besides COVID-19 Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for all Prospective Corps Members (PCMs).

“The NYSC continues to partner with the NCDC in ensuring that the environment is conducive before any exercise is organised,” he said.

Ibrahim said that the scheme successfully held the orientation courses due to measures it put in place, in collaboration with the NCDC.

“Before any orientation commences, the NYSC and NCDC work together to determine the number of corps members that can be at any orientation camp at a time to ensure that social distancing is maintained.

“The number of PCMs allowed into the camps has been reduced nationwide so that there can be room for social distancing.

“PCMs called up to serve have also been divided into batches for the registration process.

“This is to prevent overcrowding at the registration points in the camps to maintain social distancing.

“We have the NCDC surveillance team and state health officials at all camps to ensure compliance with all the measures,” he said.

The director-general said that PCMs and camps officials whose COVID-19 results were reactive would be handed over to NCDC surveillance team in the camps.

According to him, PCMs should have adequate face masks and hand sanitizer.

He said that hand washing locations were available within the camps.

The NYSC boss said that a two-metre bed spacing had been put in place in camp hostels to maintain social distancing.

The director-general gave the assurance that the NYSC had received adequate COVID-19 test kits to be used nationwide.

According to him, whether vaccinated or not, all PCMs must be tested before being allowed into the camps.

“To aid in the COVID-19 testing, the TY Danjuma Foundation donated 60,000 RDT kits while the National Agency for the Control of Aids donated 72,000 RDT kits to the NYSC.

“These kits are enough to test everyone going into the camps. Whether you are vaccinated or not, everyone entering the camps must undergo the COVID-19 test.”

Ibrahim said that only PCMs, camp officials and others who tested negative would be allowed into the camps.

It was reported that the 2021 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation began on Wednesday.

Registration will end in the midnight of Saturday (Sept.4.)

Successfully registered corps members would be sworn-in on Sept. 7 while orientation closing ceremony will hold on Sept. 21.