was established in 1973 as a national integration programme aimed at fostering unity, cultural understanding, and national development among young Nigerian graduates. For over five decades, the scheme has played a significant role in nation-building by exposing graduates to diverse cultures and communities across the country.
However, the realities of present-day Nigeria have raised a fundamental question: Can the nation continue to compel its young graduates to participate in a programme that increasingly exposes them to kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, violent crime, and death?
The answer is becoming increasingly difficult to justify. Nigeria is currently confronted by widespread insecurity across several regions. Kidnappings for ransom have become a recurring occurrence on major highways and in rural communities. Terrorist attacks, banditry, communal conflicts, and violent crimes continue to claim lives across the country. The Federal Government itself has acknowledged the severity of the security crisis and has implemented emergency measures aimed at strengthening national security.
In such circumstances, compelling fresh graduates—many of whom are in their early twenties—to travel across dangerous routes and serve in unfamiliar communities raises serious concerns about the government’s duty of care toward its citizens.
Corps members have become increasingly vulnerable
Over the years, reports of corps members being kidnapped, attacked, injured, and in some cases killed while travelling to or from their places of primary assignment have become alarmingly common. Security concerns have become so widespread that many prospective corps members and their families openly express fears about postings to certain parts of the country. Recent reports indicate that concerns over kidnapping and highway insecurity have discouraged some graduates from participating in orientation camp activities.
The existence of extensive security advisories directed at corps members further illustrates the magnitude of the danger. Public debate surrounding kidnapping risks has become so prominent that the NYSC has repeatedly found itself responding to controversies regarding guidance given to corps members on how to react during abductions.
National service should not become national sacrifice
The primary obligation of any government is the protection of life and property. While national unity remains a noble objective, it cannot take precedence over the safety of Nigerian youths.
No parent sends a child to university with the expectation that graduation will be followed by compulsory deployment into potentially dangerous environments. The value of national integration cannot outweigh the constitutional right to life and personal security.
A programme designed to promote patriotism should not place participants in situations where they fear for their safety while travelling, living, or working in assigned communities.