The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has called on the Nigerian Army to provide adequate security for corps members expected to participate in the 2027 general elections as ad hoc personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Director-General of the scheme, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, said the safety of corps members must be guaranteed before, during and after the elections, warning that their participation in the electoral process required firm security arrangements.
Nafiu made the appeal during a visit to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola.
He said corps members would play important roles in supporting INEC’s conduct of the elections, making their protection a major priority for the NYSC.
The director-general commended the military formation for maintaining a secure environment for the scheme’s operations across Lagos and Ogun states, attributing the relatively favourable security situation in the two states to the professionalism and commitment of the Army and other security agencies.
He particularly disclosed that Lagos accounts for approximately 20 per cent of the NYSC’s nationwide corps population, with between 45,000 and 48,000 members deployed to the state annually.
According to him, Lagos and Ogun are among the few states where the scheme can deploy corps members to every local government area, unlike some parts of the country where insecurity has restricted postings.
“Lagos and Ogun States are some of the states in the country where we deploy Corps Members to all the local government areas. This is unlike some other states where security challenges have made it impossible for us to deploy to certain local government areas,” he said.
Nafiu also commended Babalola for prioritising the welfare of corps members serving within the division and supporting the training, mentorship and professional development of young military officers.
He congratulated the GOC on his appointment and appreciated the officers and men of the division for their contributions to maintaining a safe environment for NYSC activities.
Responding, Babalola described Nafiu’s appointment as NYSC director-general as well deserved and assured him of the division’s continued cooperation with the scheme.
The Army commander stressed that the protection of corps members remained a priority, while commending their discipline and conduct within the division’s operational areas.
He also pledged to strengthen the existing relationship between the 81 Division and the NYSC Lagos State Secretariat.
The appeal comes amid growing concerns over the safety of young Nigerians participating in national assignments, particularly following recent kidnapping incidents involving prospective corps members.
In a related development, the Nigeria Police Force had earlier assured NYSC members and other electoral personnel of adequate protection during the 2027 elections.
The police said they were conducting threat assessments and strengthening collaboration with INEC and other security agencies to address potential threats to electoral workers.
Meanwhile, INEC has indicated that it would require more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel, largely drawn from the NYSC, to conduct the 2027 general elections.
The involvement of corps members has remained central to Nigeria’s electoral operations, with many serving as presiding officers, registration area officers and other polling officials.
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6.
