NYSC DG Commends Otti For Peaceful Environment For Corps Members In Abia.

NYSC DG Commends Otti For Peaceful Environment For Corps Members In Abia.

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has commended the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for creating a peaceful and conducive environment for corps members serving across the state.

Nafiu made the commendation on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, when he led a delegation of NYSC officials on a courtesy visit to Governor Otti at his office.

The NYSC Director General disclosed that 8,890 corps members are currently serving in Abia State, comprising 5,083 females and 3,805 males.

He said the higher number of female corps members in the state was a strong indication of the relative peace and security in Abia, explaining that the NYSC does not deploy corps members to locations considered unsafe.

“To us in NYSC, especially at the management level, any State where you find more female corps members than male, it speaks to something, and that is that there is peace,” Nafiu said.

He noted that corps members had been deployed to all 17 Local Government Areas of Abia, unlike some states where security concerns had made it impossible to deploy corps members to certain locations.

The NYSC DG also commended Governor Otti for the ongoing renovation of the NYSC Orientation Camp in Umunna, Bende Local Government Area, particularly the rehabilitation of the hostels and multipurpose hall, as well as the installation of solar-powered streetlights.

He described the projects as a demonstration of the state government’s commitment to the welfare of corps members serving in Abia.

Nafiu further appreciated the governor for increasing the state allowance paid to corps members, saying the gesture had been well received by corps members serving in the state.

The NYSC boss also highlighted the favourable environment for medical corps members in Abia, revealing that the state currently has 53 doctors, 53 pharmacists and 117 nurses serving in various locations, in addition to other healthcare personnel.

He said the willingness of medical corps members to serve in Abia was another indication that the state was increasingly being regarded as a conducive environment for national service.

Nafiu expressed hope that the second phase of renovation works at the NYSC Orientation Camp would commence soon and be delivered to the same standard as the first phase.

Responding, Governor Otti directed that work should commence on the second phase of renovations and infrastructural interventions at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Umunna.

The governor said his administration had already undertaken the first phase of renovation and building works at the camp and had approved the commencement of the second phase.

“And I’m glad with the progress that we have made, though we are not there yet. So, work will start very soon. I already have approved it,” Otti stated.

Speaking on healthcare, the governor expressed satisfaction with the number of NYSC medical personnel currently serving in Abia and reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s healthcare system.

Otti said the state had rehabilitated about 200 primary healthcare centres, while another 77 had been renovated through the support of the World Bank.

According to him, 151 of the facilities had been made functional as of Monday, while another 49 were ready to commence operations.

The governor disclosed that his administration had planned to recruit 861 healthcare professionals but was able to recruit 605, leaving a shortfall of more than 200 personnel.

He said he had consequently directed the Civil Service Commission to re-advertise the positions in order to fill the outstanding vacancies.

Otti said the presence of NYSC medical corps members could temporarily help address the manpower shortage in the state’s healthcare facilities.

“So, with this number of NYSC healthcare professionals, we may not be looking for that number, but of course, it’s short term, because after a year they will leave. But at least they will fill the gap,” the governor stated.

He appealed to the NYSC management to consider deploying more healthcare professionals to Abia in subsequent batches, stressing that the state government would continue to cooperate with the organisation.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, and other members of the Abia State Executive Council were also present during the visit.