Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has given the green light for the renovation and improvement of facilities at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp located in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area.
The initiative aims to boost the welfare of corps members and expand the camp’s capacity.
The governor announced this decision on Wednesday during a working visit by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, to Government House in Port Harcourt.
The governor praised Rivers State as a safe and welcoming environment for corps members, highlighting that the state’s security, hospitality, and stability make it a preferred destination for both graduates and their families.
“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 by the surge in people wanting to come here, or the happiness of parents whose children are posted to Rivers State,” Fubara said.
The governor stressed that the primary responsibility of government is to protect lives, safeguard property, and provide basic amenities, adding that the state has fulfilled these duties.
“That is the basic function of government; everything else is secondary. And we are doing what we should do as a government,” he stated.
Fubara directed the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benino Anabraba, to assess the scope of work required at the orientation camp and submit a report for immediate action.
He further assured that the state would provide office space for the newly established NYSC regional office and consider relocating or renovating the State Secretariat, which he said no longer meets modern standards.
Acknowledging that the NYSC is a federal agency, Fubara emphasised that Rivers State bears responsibility for maintaining the facilities within its territory.
“The people closest to these facilities are Rivers State people. So it is also on us to ensure we do whatever we can to put these places in order and make them comfortable for both our residents and visitors,” he said.
The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Nafiu, said his visit was part of a nationwide tour of orientation camps. He revealed that 2,586 corps members are currently participating in the 2025 Batch C orientation programme in Rivers State, making it the fourth most preferred deployment destination in the country. Additionally, 8,349 indigenes of Rivers State are serving in various states nationwide.
Highlighting the contributions of corps members to national development, Nafiu said their service saves the state up to ₦15 billion annually if valued at full salary rates.
“With this figure, Rivers is the fourth destination across the country with the highest number of corps members, after Lagos, FCT, and Oyo. It shows that corps members are welcomed here. The security of lives and property in the state gives confidence to parents and guardians,” he said.
Brigadier General Nafiu also thanked the governor for providing land for the State Coordinator’s residence and for supporting improvements to 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 the congested Mile 2 market, Diobu.
The NYSC, which began in 1973/74 with 2,764 corps members, now has over 400,000 participants nationwide, with over 650,000 graduates eligible for mobilisation in 2026. Nafiu noted that this growth underscores the need to expand and modernise orientation camp facilities across the country.
