The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Samson Ateli, has appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to commence the second phase of the reconstruction and renovation of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja.
Ateli made the appeal during the official opening and swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course held at the camp.
The coordinator said several sections of the camp’s infrastructure required urgent repairs and upgrades to improve the quality of facilities available to corps members and camp officials.
According to him, the increasing number of corps members deployed to the FCT had also placed pressure on existing accommodation facilities, making the renovation and expansion of the camp necessary.
Ateli disclosed that 5,629 corps members had been successfully registered for the orientation exercise in the FCT as of August 6, comprising 2,271 males and 3,358 females.
He explained that due to the inadequate accommodation capacity of the FCT orientation camp, some corps members deployed to the territory had to be transferred to orientation camps in Benue, Kaduna, Kano and Nasarawa states.
He said the situation underscored the need for improved infrastructure and additional accommodation facilities at the FCT camp to enable the NYSC to accommodate more corps members within the territory.
Ateli expressed appreciation to the FCTA for its continued support for the NYSC scheme and appealed for the commencement of the second phase of the reconstruction and renovation project.
He said upgrading the camp would not only improve the welfare of corps members but also provide a more conducive environment for the implementation of the three-week orientation programme.
The coordinator also urged corps members to take full advantage of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, which he said was designed to equip them with skills for self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
He further urged them to maintain discipline throughout their service year, warning against drug abuse, financial crimes and other anti-social behaviours capable of bringing the NYSC scheme into disrepute.
Ateli commended the corps members for their conduct since their arrival at the camp, noting that they had adapted well to the regimented environment.
The orientation course featured the administration of the Oath of Allegiance to the corps members by the Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, who was represented by Justice Ngozika Nwabulu.
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, members of the NYSC Governing Board, security agencies and other stakeholders.