CROSSJOF Condemns Suspension of Obubra NYSC Orientation Camp, Calls for Temporary Relocation
Oru Leonard
The Cross River State Journalists Forum (CROSSJOF), Abuja, has condemned the suspension of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Obubra, Cross River State, calling on the scheme’s management to consider temporarily relocating corps members to an alternative facility while renovation work is carried out.
The forum’s position was conveyed by its Chairman, Mrs Francisca Ogar, following a congress held on Friday, October 16, 2026, where members expressed concern over the decision by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, to suspend activities at the camp.
CROSSJOF argued that the maintenance of NYSC orientation camps is a shared responsibility between state and federal governments, noting that state governments have a statutory obligation to provide and maintain camp facilities, while the Federal Government, through the NYSC, is responsible for administering the scheme.
The forum acknowledged that the Obubra camp has deteriorating facilities and collapsed structures but maintained that similar challenges exist in several orientation camps across the country without necessarily resulting in their closure.
It questioned the level of communication and collaboration between the Cross River State Government and the Federal Government over the condition of the facility, stressing the need for constructive engagement to address the challenges.
Expressing concern over the implications of the suspension, CROSSJOF noted that Cross River State depends significantly on corps members to provide manpower in schools, hospitals and other public establishments.
According to the forum, the suspension could worsen manpower shortages in critical sectors and negatively affect service delivery across the state.
Members also questioned whether Cross River State was being unfairly treated, drawing attention to the nomination of Ntufam Hilliard Etta, a Cross River indigene, as chairman of the NYSC board. The forum expressed concern that, nearly a year after his nomination, he had reportedly neither been sworn in nor provided the necessary support to function effectively.
CROSSJOF, however, urged the NYSC Director-General to reconsider the suspension and explore alternative arrangements that would allow the orientation exercise to continue.
It recommended the temporary relocation of the camp to a government secondary school with boarding facilities or a higher institution with adequate accommodation while the Obubra facility undergoes the necessary repairs.
The forum stressed that such an arrangement would prevent disruptions to the NYSC programme and ensure that prospective corps members posted to Cross River State are not unnecessarily disadvantaged.
CROSSJOF also called on state governments across the federation to prioritise the regular maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrading of NYSC orientation camps to provide safe, healthy and conducive environments for corps members.
The forum maintained that sustained cooperation between the federal and state governments remains essential to safeguarding the objectives of the NYSC scheme and ensuring that young Nigerians can effectively contribute to national development.
