Introduction

In recent times, a worrisome trend has emerged – the kidnapping of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members by brazen individuals. This concerning development not only puts the safety of these young individuals at risk but also raises doubts about their willingness to participate in the NYSC program. This situation has larger implications for the country’s future.

In the words of Bamigboye Olurotimi, “A nation without productive youths is a nation without hope, and a nation without hope is a nation without a future.” These words, though simple, are powerful testaments to the fact that no nation can thrive without its youth at the forefront of national development.

In recent times, a worrisome trend has emerged – the kidnapping of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members by brazen individuals. This concerning development not only puts the safety of these young individuals at risk but also raises doubts about their willingness to participate in the NYSC program. This situation has larger implications for the country’s future.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was created on the 22nd of May 1973, during the General Yakubu Gowon regime, as an avenue for the reconciliation, reconstruction, and rebuilding of the nation after the civil war. It was established based on decree No. 24, which stated that the scheme was created “with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity.” The scheme has thrived and continued under the supervision of the military till date. No doubt, the scheme has helped connect Nigerians across different ethnic and religious spheres. Doubts, however, have continued to linger about its value in the present day system, especially the attendant risk now that the country is plagued by banditry to the north and agitations to the south, both of which have resulted in loss of lives.

For long, despite the obvious security threats that led to the closure of the Borno state NYSC camp, the NYSC management have managed to keep attacks on Corp Members to the barest minimum. But those days seem to have passed by. Since the start of the year, NYSC corp members have begun to fall prey to daredevil kidnappers who have now perfected the art of kidnapping corp members either on their way to camp or back from camp.

On February 15, 2023, gunmen abducted 15 corp members in Anambra State. In May 2023, another 7 corp members were kidnapped on their way back from their orientation camp in Rivers. Most recently, is the kidnapping of 8 corp members in Zamfara State en-route to their orientation camp. This disturbing trend not only paints the country’s security measures as ineffective but further dampens the morale of youths willing to participate in the NYSC scheme.

There have been widespread calls for the scheme to be scrapped by various individuals. The Federal government must wake up to its responsibilities and protect these corp members, not just because they fly the NYSC flag, but because they represent the future of Nigeria. We must ensure that we safeguard them to prevent these occurrences from becoming a norm. If these kidnappings are not nipped in the bud, then the government risks seeing a massive decline in youth participation and the subsequent failure of the scheme.

While we pray for the safe return of the remaining kidnapped corp members, the federal government must look into calls for the scheme to be repurposed and rejigged. This would ensure that its goals and mandates go beyond peace and unity building, but also enhance job creation and employment readiness, and ensure the overall safety of its members.

Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, said and I quote: “Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind.” If Nigeria fails in its duties to protect its youth, then we must prepare for the consequences and its effect on our pursuit to emerge as a great nation. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear and take heed.”

AND FOUR OTHER ESSENTIALS: WIKE THE IRON MAN

Former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, assumed office as the FCT Minister on Monday, listing a host of tasks to be addressed. Among the noteworthy commitments was his pledge to take bold actions to restore Abuja to its original master plan. While some have raised questions about his choice of words, others have praised his swift assertion of authority. Regardless of opinions, the crux lies in translating words into action. In the ensuing weeks, the substance behind these statements will become apparent.

DEFENCE ROOKIES

On Monday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated 45 ministers. Two appointments particularly stood out for me: Mohammed Baduru as Minister of Defense and Bello Matawalle as Minister of State for Defense. The rationale behind these appointments remains unclear. Banditry surged to the highest during Matawalle’s tenure as Zamfara governor, accompanied by an inability to counter the attacks and failed negotiation with bandits exposing his weak approach to security, as well as legal issues with the EFCC and ongoing disputes with the incumbent governor over alleged looting of government vehicles. Despite the presence of seasoned figures like Nuhu Ribadu as the National Security Adviser and the new service chiefs, the pairing raises eyebrows. Whatever the reasoning, I hope it does not backfire.

GOVERNOR UMAR BAGO SHOCKER

In a tragic incident on August 14th 2023, 36 soldiers were ambushed and killed by bandits, with a NAF helicopter crash during an evacuation attempt, claiming more lives. Undoubtedly, this marks one of the most devastating blows suffered by the military in the north-central region during its battle against banditry. Shockingly, within 72 hours, Governor Umar Bago disclosed that the state was contemplating negotiations with the very same bandits. The families of the fallen soldiers must have experienced profound anguish upon hearing this announcement. It is imperative for the Military command to swiftly translate their words into action, relentlessly pursuing these terrorists and ensuring prompt justice. This is crucial to demonstrate to both the troops in the field and the general public that their sacrifices are not futile. One must question the inclination of our leaders to why our leaders easily succumb to negotiations with terrorist, a strategy that has not only failed but worsened insecurity across the nation.

PALLATIVES DRAMA

Once more, we find ourselves amidst the palliative distribution season, wherein the government releases food items for allocation by state governments. The last time this happened, we witnessed the discovery of vast stockpiles of food items in warehouses scattered across various locations. This led to widespread looting and disorder in the country. The repercussions of that episode still linger, and with Nigeria currently on the edge following subsidy removal, I hope governors and relevant agencies do the right thing this time around and take appropriate measures to avert further turmoil. Once beaten, twice shy.

Solomon Eragbie, contributing from Lagos, Nigeria,
can be reached via [email protected] or via his mobile number 08128401306.

The post Rising Concerns: The Kidnapping of NYSC Corp Members and Its Impact on Youth Participation -By Solomon Eragbie first appeared on Opinion Nigeria.