Corps Members Raise Alarm as Gombe NYSC Camp Deteriorates
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The National Youth Corps Members at the Gombe State NYSC orientation camp have raised the alarm over what they described as unsafe and degrading living conditions, urging an immediate intervention from the NYSC authorities and Gombe State Government to ameliorate their plight.
The camp, according to participants, has now become almost uninhabitable following days of torrential rainfalls that flooded several hostels and damaged personal belongings.
Many of the structures at the site are said to be in disrepair, with leaking roofs, broken windows, and visible cracks in walls.
“Every night, we sleep with one eye open, praying the building doesn’t collapse. When it rains, our beds are soaked. We are living in fear, not service,” according to a Corps Member who craved anonymity.
Eyewitness accounts and photographs shared online revealed the extent of the damage, showing submerged hostels, weakened infrastructure, and stagnant water across the premises.
Some Corps Members said that the poor conditions of the hostels and other infrastructure not only exposed them to danger but also raised the risk of waterborne diseases and injuries.
“This is not what we signed up for, we are serving our nation, but the nation is failing to serve us. We are not asking for luxury, just safety and dignity,” a Corps Member wrote in a post gaining attention on social media.
Others at the camp believed that the pathetic situation was as a result of years of neglect. “The government’s silence is dangerous. If nothing is done urgently, we fear the camp might soon witness a tragedy,” another Corps Member lamented.
They said the NYSC Act mandates governments at all levels to provide suitable facilities and ensure the welfare of Corps Members throughout their service year, lamenting that “the current state of the Gombe camp reflects a clear breach of this responsibility”.
With public concern growing, pressure is now mounting on both the NYSC and the Gombe State Government to take immediate steps to renovate the camp and guarantee the safety of the corps members that are currently serving.