C’River relocates NYSC orientation camp from Obubra to Akamkpa
The Cross River Government has approved the temporary relocation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp from Obubra to the University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Calabar.
He said the relocation, approved by Gov. Bassey Otu was to allow for the comprehensive renovation, remodelling, and upgrading of the existing camp facilities in Obubra.
According to him, the camp, which has served the NYSC scheme for years, has become overstretched and requires urgent intervention to meet modern standards.
He said the existing facilities required rehabilitation and modernisation to provide a safer, more conducive, and befitting environment for corps members during their orientation exercise.
“The government wishes to emphasise that this relocation is strictly temporary. Upon completion of the renovation works, the camp will return to Obubra,” he said.
Enoh said the University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa, had been assessed and found to have adequate facilities to host the orientation exercise.
He listed the available facilities to include hostels, water, electricity, a parade ground, and security infrastructure, adding that the institution was suitable for a hitch-free orientation exercise.
The government appealed to stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that the relocation would enable the comprehensive upgrading of the Obubra camp without disrupting NYSC orientation activities.
It reaffirmed its commitment to investing in infrastructure that promotes youth development and national service.
The government said the temporary arrangement would remain in place until the renovation works at Obubra were completed, after which the camp would return to its permanent location.
The development follows a recent inspection of the camp by the NYSC Director-General, who reportedly expressed concern that the facilities had deteriorated and no longer met the required standards for hosting corps members.
A credible source within the scheme, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, told the Newsmen that the proposed suspension would take effect after the ongoing 2026 Batch C, Stream One orientation exercise.
According to the source, the directive would effectively prevent the posting of corps members to Cross River for Stream Two, pending further notice.
“After going through the camp facilities, we discovered that the facilities are old and no longer meet the required standards.
“As a result, the Director-General said there would be no further posting of corps members to Cross River until further notice.
“In fact, he is saying that the state needs a brand-new camp,” the source said.
The source added that the NYSC was seeking the state government’s intervention to address the situation.
Findings by Truthliner indicate that the condition of the camp has affected the number of corps members accommodated in the state.
The facility, which previously hosted about 2,500 corps members per stream, now accommodates slightly more than 1,000, while more than 700 corps members are reportedly processing relocation to other states.
The decline represents a significant shortfall from the approximately 6,000 corps members the state was expected to receive annually.
The orientation camp, located in Obubra Local Government Area, occupies the premises of the former Government Science School and is said to have operated for more than two decades without any major renovation.
