NYSC DG Urges Corps Members to Shun Cultism, Drug Abuse

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NSYC), Brigadier General Yushalu D. Ahmed, has urged corps members to shun activities that lead to cultism and drug abuse, warning that anyone caught in the act would be sanctioned.

Ahmed gave this warning on Saturday while addressing the 2023 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 Corps members deployed to Rivers State, during his visit at the NYSC orientation camp in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area of the state.

He said that illegal gathering and illicit drug consumption are prohibited in and outside the camp, and charged them to be of good conduct

The director general said: “Let me equally use this opportunity to remind you that illegal social gathering, such as gathering that will lead to cultism is not tolerated in the camp. There are a lot of other social vices, like drug abuse are also prohibißted in the camp. Not only within the camp, including outside camp.

 You are expected to behave yourself so that you will be responsible individual.

“There are lectures lined out for you in your programmes. I am sure you have started receiving some of these lectures, particularly security lectures. It is very important.

“The essence of putting these lectures is to ensure the safety of all the corps members. There is no way anybody will provide security for you more than the way you can secure yourself. That is why you must listen to those lectures, so that you can be security conscious and avoid all eventualities that will lead you into any danger.”

He further urged the corps members to abide by the rules and regulations of the NYSC, stressing that anyone found guilty of acting contrary to the guidelines would be sanctioned and even decamped.

“In every camp nationwide, we have our guidelines and I expect you all not to relent to keep the memento to continue to be disciplined, to obey these rules and regulations. If anybody disobeyed the rules, that peron will be subjected to the camp court. And if you are tried and found guilty, you will be sanctioned. If the offense is so high, we can decamp the corps member from the camp.

“But with what I have heard and what I am seeing here, I don’t see the possibility of decamping anybody from Rivers State.”

He commended the discipline experienced in the Rivers State camp, while reminding the corps members of the essence of the programme as set up by the government.

You must respect each other’s opinion. As graduate, you will have diverse opinion but you must respect other people’s opinions while you hold yours. I have visited the camp clinic, I am highly impressed. I met only one patient in the clinic and that goes to tell me that corps members in Rivers State are healthy.

“You are to add values in those communities, respect their culture. In your place of primary assignment you must take note of community development service, you should be able to pick the CDS that will add value to the community.” Ahmed added.

Earlier in his remark, the Rivers State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr. George Mfongang, said that 1674 corps members were presently undergoing orientation at the camp.

Mfongang noted that the corps members are the first set to receive the director general in the state since he assumed office.

He informed the Ahmed that the set of corps members are very unique, stressing that “they have demonstrated very high level of responsibility, patriotism, zealousness, dedication enthusiasm and commitment to the ideals of the NYSC.”

The coordinator further thanked the state government under the watch of Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the tremendous support for the good conditions of the corps members and expressed gratitude to the Ahmed for “reviewing upward the provision for feeding of corps members and camp officials,” saying that the increase has made significant difference.