NYSC At 53: Abuja, Lagos Rush As Corps Members Shun ‘Risky’ Postings

Fifty-three years after its establishment in the aftermath of Nigeria’s civil war, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is facing a growing test of its founding vision, as increasing numbers of prospective corps members scramble for postings to major urban centres such as Abuja and Lagos, while shunning deployment to several northern states. HENRY TYOHEMBA writes

Created in 1973 to foster national unity, integration, and post-war reconciliation, the scheme once symbolised shared national identity by deploying graduates across diverse ethnic and regional boundaries.

LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that this ideal is now under strain amid widening disparities in posting preferences and concerns over the programme’s ability to meet its core objectives.

Preference For Urban Centres

Findings by LEADERSHIP Sunday show that Abuja and Lagos have become the most sought-after destinations, driven by perceptions of better security, infrastructure, and economic opportunities.

Statistics gathered by LEADERSHIP Sunday indicate that nearly eight out of ten prospective corps members prefer postings to Abuja or Lagos, while the remainder opt for a few states such as Kaduna and Nasarawa, or other southern locations.

Evidence including call-up numbers and preferred places of service obtained from prospective and serving corps members reinforces this trend.

Resistance to Northern Postings Grows

At the same time, resistance to postings in several northern states is intensifying, particularly among corps members from southern Nigeria.

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that fears of insecurity and the risks associated with long-distance travel are key drivers of this trend.

As a result, corps members posted to such areas often seek redeployment after orientation, citing safety concerns or proximity to home.

System Under Pressure, Scams Emerge

A LEADERSHIP Sunday investigation indicates that many graduates now pursue direct postings or redeployment through unofficial channels to avoid perceived high-risk areas.

This trend is placing pressure on the scheme’s deployment system and raising concerns about transparency and fairness.

At the same time, scammers are exploiting the desperation of prospective corps members, posing as insiders who claim they can influence postings—particularly to Abuja and Lagos—for a fee.

Under NYSC guidelines, redeployment is permitted on grounds such as health, marital status, security concerns, and, in rare cases, compassionate reasons.

Applications are typically submitted during or shortly after orientation and are subject to approval.

However, LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that many requests are increasingly driven by fear rather than official criteria, undermining the scheme’s objective of fostering national unity and cultural exchange.

On 26 September 2025, a widow whose only son was posted to Katsina expressed deep concern for his safety.

Desperate for relocation, she paid N100,000 to an online scammer who claimed to have connections with NYSC officials, but the relocation did not go through.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP Sunday, she said:

“My son cannot complete his service there; I want him back. I lost my husband just before he graduated, and I cannot risk my son serving in a state ravaged by insecurity.

“My son told me he met someone who agreed to help. I gathered N100,000 from my petty business to give him, but in the end, the relocation did not work out.

“Thank God a good Samaritan helped us without charging anything, and he was relocated to Nasarawa State, which is closer to home and safer.”

Stakeholders Demand Reform

Stakeholders are increasingly calling for a comprehensive review of the NYSC Act to align the scheme with present-day realities.

Human rights activist Isaac Moji said reform has become inevitable.

“Reforming the NYSC Act is no longer optional. It is a necessary step to address growing concerns around safety, deployment fairness, and the overall relevance of the programme,” he said.

Parents and other stakeholders are urging the Federal Government to either reform or scrap the scheme entirely over rising safety concerns.

Traditionally, corps members were deployed across regions to promote national integration.

However, LEADERSHIP Sunday findings indicate that rising insecurity, unemployment, and declining trust in institutions are reshaping these ideals.

For many families, participation in the scheme is now less about national service and more about managing risk and uncertainty.

Scheme Still Matters

Despite its challenges, the NYSC remains a key pathway for many young Nigerians.

Over 450,000 graduates are mobilised annually, undergoing a three-week orientation that includes paramilitary drills and skills training under the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

Participants acquire vocational skills such as shoemaking, tailoring, catering, photography, and other trades aimed at improving employability.

After orientation, corps members are posted to a place of primary assignment (PPA) for one year and receive a monthly allowance of N77,000, with some additional support from employers.

Security Concerns Persist

An Abuja-based parent, Mrs Veronica, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that urgent action is needed.

“No parent is happy seeing their child posted to areas without guaranteed security. This is why I think the NYSC scheme should be totally reformed, or better still, scrapped entirely.

“Young adults are made to travel kilometres away from home without essentials in the name of ‘serving the country’. It does not sound right to me,” she said.

Although the NYSC maintains that the safety of corps members remains a top priority—working with security agencies and advising on safe travel—fear remains high.

In 2023, LEADERSHIP Sunday reported that more than 61 corps members were kidnapped between 2014 and October 2023.

Among the cases was the abduction of eight prospective corps members travelling to an orientation camp in Sokoto, who were seized in Zamfara State.

Several other incidents involved smaller groups, with victims often released after ransom payments.

An Uncertain Future

Analysts say that more than five decades after its creation, the NYSC is struggling to fulfil its vision of a united and indivisible Nigeria.

While some graduates find ways to avoid the scheme, many working-class Nigerians still depend on the NYSC certification for employment opportunities.

For now, LEADERSHIP Sunday findings suggest that without urgent reform, the gap between the scheme’s founding ideals and present realities will continue to widen