Corps members cry out, hunger in orientation camps 

Rising cost of goods and services in Nigeria resulting  in cost of living in the country is impacting members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who are currently undergoing the 2024 Batch A, Stream 1 orientation in different camps across the country, as the corps members are complaining about the soaring food prices in Markets in the various camps. The Mammy Markets are stationed in every NYSC orientation camp for those unable to endure the queues for camp-provided food. Despite the displeasure of some corps members with the quality and quantity of meals in the camps, many are unable to afford augmenting such meals by buying from Mammy Markets because of paucity of funds. 

A corps member, in Bauchi NYSC Camp, shared on TikTok that the exorbitant costs in Mammy markets have forced nearly all corps members to queue for camp food. He wrote, “Everyone wants camp food due to the unaffordable prices in the Mammy Market. Those who brought thousands to the camp have exhausted their funds within two days. Now, food is scarce for all corps members. We are even fighting to be in the queue and receive very little food.” Another corps member in the Southern part of the country mentioned that the camp coordinator advised corps members not to rely on camp food, as it is not supposed to be sufficient for everyone.  She said, “Our camp coordinator even told us to consider camp exit because the camp cannot feed everyone.”

Also, a corps member in Lagos, who preferred anonymity, said, “The camp meals are not sufficient enough for adults like us, but we all understand the situation of things in the country generally. The contractors who were given the job to buy food items would been mobilised before now and the inflationary trends have caught up with that. The government would have decided on what to allocate for feeding corps members before now and things have taken a new turn. If we have enough support from our parents and guardians, in terms of stipends, one would be able to buy from the Mammy Market to support what is served, but where is the money now? People are really hungry,” he said.  However, the NYSC management has denied the reports claiming high food prices in orientation camps, labelling them as unfounded and mischievous fabrications. In a statement by Eddy Megwa, NYSC’s Director of Press and Public Relations, he said the allegations were “laughable, absurd, and unfortunate.”

Megwa condemned the circulating narrative, which suggested that a state coordinator encouraged corps members to leave the orientation camp due to food shortages. “The story is nothing but a tissue of lies, intended to cause mischief,” stated Megwa.  NYSC management insisted that such a claim is baseless, particularly considering the experience and rank of the state coordinators involved, who are seasoned officials, many with over 25 years of dedicated service. Megwa outlined the operational framework of the orientation camps, emphasizing the system of checks and balances in place to ensure a smooth and well-regulated course of activities, including the feeding of corps members. “A Resident Officer from the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters is always present to oversee the adherence to policies and rules,” he explained. 

The Director-General of NYSC, Brig Gen Yushau Dogara Ahmed, was also mentioned as playing a hands-on role, visiting camps each season to personally attend to the welfare of the corps members. Megwa also touched on the regulation of camp markets, acknowledging that while they are shielded from exploitative practices, they are not immune to the broader economic challenges faced globally. He took a stern tone against those behind the spread of the false claims, accusing them of seeking to profit at the expense of the nation’s peace of mind.  “Their actions inflict incalculable damage to our dear country and the psyche of our people,” he said. The NYSC Director urged those disseminating falsehoods to cease their harmful activities and reminded that the scheme maintains an open-door policy, always ready to provide clarifications on its operations.