The Cross River Government has approved the temporary relocation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp from Obubra LGA to Akamkpa LGA for comprehensive renovation.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, announced the decision in a statement issued on Thursday in Calabar. He said Gov. Bassey Otu approved the relocation to facilitate the remodelling, renovation and upgrading of the existing camp facilities.
Owan-Enoh explained that the Obubra camp had become overstretched after serving the NYSC scheme for several years, requiring urgent government intervention. “The Obubra camp had become overstretched after serving the NYSC scheme for several years, necessitating urgent government intervention,” he said.
He said the planned renovation would modernise the facilities and provide corps members with a safer and more conducive environment during orientation. The government designated the University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Awi, Akamkpa, as the temporary host for the orientation exercise.
According to Owan-Enoh, the university had been assessed and found suitable to accommodate corps members throughout the temporary relocation. He listed the available facilities to include hostels, water supply, electricity, a parade ground and adequate security infrastructure.
The government stressed that the relocation was temporary, assuring stakeholders that the orientation camp would return to Obubra after the renovation. The announcement follows earlier criticism of the camp’s deteriorating condition by Mrs Nkoyo Toyo, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Toyo had condemned the dilapidated state of the facilities and called for their renovation to improve conditions for corps members.
Owan-Enoh appealed to stakeholders to support the initiative, describing it as part of the government’s investment in infrastructure and youth development. He reiterated the government’s commitment to improving facilities for corps members while ensuring the temporary relocation would not disrupt the NYSC orientation programme.
