Tag: NYSC

No fewer than 9 members of the National Youth Service Corps deployed to Niger state have tested positive for COVID-l9, investigations have revealed.

Our Reporter learnt that the corps members were discovered to be positive after tests carried out on them when they reported for the two-week orientation programme at the Paiko temporary orientation camp.

It was learnt that those affected had already been placed in isolation in one of the government facilities in the state.

The development it was gathered stopped those concerned from passing out with others on Tuesday after the two-week orientation programme.

They are doing fine in the isolation centre, ” a top official of the State Task Force on COVID-19.

No official of the State NYSC directorate was prepared to volunteer information officially on the development, however when contacted the state Commissioner for Information Alhaji Mohammed Sani Idris confirmed the development, saying that the relations of the affected Youth Corps members have been informed.

The Commissioner also confirmed that the Task Force on COVID-19 in the state had begun the fumigation of the House of Assembly complex following the discovery that the Speaker Abdullahi Bawa Wuse and Clerk of the Assembly Alhaji Abdullahi Kagara tested positive for COVID-19 recently.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has approved the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Abia for re-opening ahead of the upcoming orientation activities commencing from Nov.10.

The NCDC team led by Dr Okorie Onuka, Pillar Lead, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) gave the approval after inspecting facilities at the camp on Friday in Umuahia, NAN reports.

Onuka said thorough assessments were carried out at the hostels, clinic, isolation centre, and kitchen

“We have seen the hand-washing equipment and we have seen the readiness of the staff. I believe they are ready to start the camp

“We have also added that we were going to do some training for them. If there is any suspected case they will take the sample and bring it to us,“ he said.

He, however, commended the state coordinator and her management team for their efforts, adding that “the camp is clean and tidy.”

Security operatives comprising officers of the Nigeria Police Force and soldiers have arrested some persons for vandalising and attempting to loot some properties of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Speaking at the NYSC Camp, Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday after the security operatives arrested the rampaging youths, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, stressed that the camp is not in possession of any COVID-19 palliatives.

He, therefore, appealed to the youths to stop attacking NYSC camps under the guise of looking for palliatives.

Some of the items that were carted away included mattresses, stationeries, boots and uniforms of potential corps members.

This comes in the wake of series of looting that has occurred across the country in the past couple of days, even as miscreants hijacked the #EndSARS protests.

Across the country, major malls, shops, private businesses and even vehicles have been burnt down – prisoners have escaped from jails, following what started as peaceful protests, demanding an end to police brutality and extrajudicial killings, as well as better governance in the country.

The looting of warehouses storing COVID-19 palliatives, first started in Lagos – part of an aftermath of shootings that occurred on Tuesday at the Lekki Toll Gate area of the state.

Viral videos on social media showed people packing out bags and cartons of the palliatives which were ought to have been shared by government to cushion the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.

Nearly one week after, the lootings have intensified across other states with many slamming the government for ‘hoarding for months’ what could have helped Nigerians cope through the hard times of the pandemic.

The state governments, on the other hand, have come out to say the palliatives were not hoarded but rather saved for vulnerable groups of the society.

The National Youths Service Scheme, (NYSC) has directed its State Coordinators to liaise with security agencies in their respective states to beef up security presence to ward off potential attacks on the camps by hoodlums who might be invading them in search of hidden COVID-19 palliatives.

The Katsina state coordinator of NYSC, Alhaji Yahaya Ahidjo said that the measure has become necessary in view of the growing attacks on NYSC orientation camps already recorded in FCT, Cross River, and Adamawa states.

He said ’’yes it’s a directive from our headquarters, asking state coordinators to liaise with security agencies in the state in order to beef up security in their orientation camps.

“As you can see we have already deployed the Police, Army, and other security agencies to our orientation camps in case of any eventuality or attack on us.

“The hoodlums appear to be targeting COVID-19 isolation centers and possibly warehouse locations for palliatives.”

When the Nation visited the NYSC orientation camp located at Mani road, Katsina, contingents of Soldiers and Police force were been deployed to guard the main entrance and the premise of the orientation camp.

Meanwhile, the camp has stepped up preparations for its reopening for orientation activities by November 10, with a visit by NCDC officials to certify its level of compliance with COVID-19 protocols.