The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the upgrade and renovation of facilities at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Rivers State.
Fubara gave the approval while receiving the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu on a working visit to Government House, Port Harcourt.
Fubara said Rivers remained peaceful and hospitable, noting that he was not surprised by reports that many graduates and parents preferred the state for national service.
He said, “Rivers State is a very hospitable state. We have a very wonderful nature; we accommodate. And the truth is that we are also a peaceful people.
“So, I am not surprised when you talked about the surge in people wanting and struggling to come to Rivers State, and when parents are also very happy that their children are coming to Rivers State because of our spirit of accommodation.”
Fubara said the state’s stability reflected the core duty of government to protect lives and property and provide basic amenities.
He said, “The purpose of government, basically, is to protect lives and property, and to provide basic amenities and a stable economy. That is the basic function of government; everything else is secondary. And we are doing what we should do as a government.”
The governor directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Benino Anabraba to assess the required work at the camp and submit a report for immediate action.
He assured that the state would provide office space for the newly established NYSC regional office and consider the relocation or remodeling of the NYSC State Secretariat, which he described as no longer befitting.
“We agree that this agency is a federal agency. But who are the people closest to these facilities? They are Rivers State people. So it is also on us to ensure that we do whatever we can to put these places in order and make them comfortable for both our people and the visitors,”
“So, I can assure you that the complaints you have raised particularly the need to expand the facility in line with your projection for next year have been noted. Secretary to the State Government, please take note of that. The few repairs that were also mentioned, and other things that need to be sorted out, should be scoped properly and brought to my attention.”
The NYSC Director-General, Brig.- Gen. Olakunle Nafiu said he was in the state as part of a nationwide tour of orientation camps.
He disclosed that 2,586 corps members were currently undergoing the 2025 Batch C orientation programme in Rivers State, making the state the fourth most preferred deployment destination adding that 8,349 indigenes of Rivers were also serving in various states.
The DG highlighted the contributions of corps members to national development, saying their services saved the state up to ₦15bn annually if valued at full salary rates.
He sais: “With this figure, Rivers is the fourth destination across the country with the highest number of corps members after Lagos, FCT and Oyo.
“It goes to show that corps members are welcomed here. The security of lives and property we have in this state gives confidence to the parents and guardians of corps members posted here.”
He thanked the governor for the state’s support including land for residence and plans to improve camp facilities.
He appealed for the reconstitution of the state and local government NYSC governing boards and requested the relocation of the NYSC office currently situated in a congested market area in Mile 2, Diobu.
The DG noted that the NYSC, which began in 1973/74 with 2,764 corps members, now has over 400,000 participants.
He said over 650,000 graduates were qualified for mobilisation for the 2026 service year, making expansion of facilities necessary nationwide.
