The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has commended Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for creating a peaceful and conducive environment for corps members serving across the state.
Nafiu gave the commendation on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Governor Otti at the Governor’s Office in Abia.
The NYSC DG disclosed that 8,890 corps members are currently serving in the state, comprising 5,083 females and 3,805 males, noting that the higher number of female corps members was a strong indication of the state’s relative peace and security.
“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 stated.
He explained that the NYSC does not deploy corps members to areas considered unsafe, adding that all 17 local government areas of Abia currently receive corps members, unlike some states where security concerns have restricted deployment to certain locations.
Nafiu also praised the Otti administration for renovating the NYSC Orientation Camp in Umunna, Bende Local Government Area, particularly the hostels and multipurpose hall, as well as installing solar-powered streetlights.
He described the interventions as evidence of the state government’s commitment to improving the welfare and working environment of corps members.
The NYSC boss also commended the state government for increasing its allowance for corps members, saying the gesture had generated excitement among those serving in Abia.
Nafiu further highlighted Abia’s growing attraction for medical corps members, revealing that the state currently has 53 doctors, 53 pharmacists and 117 nurses, alongside other healthcare professionals serving under the NYSC scheme.
He said the willingness of medical personnel to serve in Abia further demonstrated the state’s growing reputation as a conducive environment for national service.
Responding, Governor Otti directed the commencement of the second phase of renovation and infrastructural work at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Umunna.
Otti said his administration had completed the first phase of the intervention and had already approved the next stage.
“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,” the governor stated.
The governor also expressed satisfaction with the number of NYSC healthcare professionals serving in the state, saying their presence would complement his administration’s investment in primary healthcare.
“It’s an area that is so important to us. If you spend a little bit more time, you would notice that we have fixed about 200 primary health care centres. We also have another 77 that was fixed by the World Bank. And as at Monday, we have functionalised 151 of them. So there are 49 more that are ready to start operation,” Otti said.
He explained that the state required qualified professionals to fully operationalise its renovated primary healthcare centres, noting that the government had initially planned to recruit 861 healthcare workers but secured only 605.
“The minimum standard is that every primary health care centre must have some professionals. And if we don’t get those professionals, we don’t start. We wanted to hire 861 healthcare professionals. We got only 605. So I just authorised the Civil Service Commission to now go back and re-advertise, because we have a gap of over 200 people,” he said.
Otti said the NYSC medical corps members could help bridge the immediate manpower gap while the state pursued permanent recruitment.
“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. So I’m happy, and I would like that even more people should be considered for this place, if it is within your power to do in the next batch,” he stated.
The governor assured the NYSC management of his administration’s continued cooperation, saying the state remained committed to creating a conducive environment for national service.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, and other members of the Abia State Executive Council attended the meeting.
