An educationist and former National Youth Service Corps member, Asiwaju Busari Shaamsuddeen Akande, has called for sustained investment in educational and youth development infrastructure following the suspension of corps members’ deployment to Cross River State over the poor condition of its permanent orientation camp.

Akande said government commitment to young Nigerians should go beyond increasing corps members’ allowances to providing safe, functional and decent facilities for their development.

The call follows reports that the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, suspended further deployment to the state after inspecting the permanent orientation camp in Obubra Local Government Area and finding that its facilities no longer met the required standards.

On October 15, the Cross River State Government announced the temporary relocation of orientation activities to the University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Akamkpa Local Government Area to allow for the renovation and upgrading of the Obubra camp.

Governor Bassey Otu subsequently directed the immediate commencement of rehabilitation work, with the state government assuring that the relocation would remain temporary and activities would return to Obubra after the upgrade.

The camp, which previously accommodated about 2,500 corps members per stream, reportedly has a capacity of fewer than 1,000 due to years of infrastructure deterioration.

Reacting to the development, Akande, who served in Cross River during the 1998/1999 Batch B service year, said the situation highlighted the consequences of prolonged neglect of public facilities.

He recalled that after his orientation in Obubra, he was posted to Ugep in Yakurr Local Government Area, where his experience with the community exposed him to the NYSC scheme’s role in promoting national integration and cultural understanding.

Akande said the scheme’s contribution to national unity could be sustained only if corps members were provided with suitable conditions during their orientation.

He urged the authorities to complete the rehabilitation of the Obubra camp promptly and ensure regular maintenance of public infrastructure to prevent similar disruptions in the future.