As kidnappers target corps members on interstate journeys, Nigerians question whether a scheme designed to unite the country is exposing its young graduates to avoidable danger, renewing calls for security-led reforms, voluntary participation and a rethink of compulsory national service.

By Queen Phillips

For thousands of Nigerian graduates, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was once a rite of passage into adulthood, an opportunity to leave familiar surroundings, encounter different cultures, forge friendships across ethnic and religious divides and contribute to national development.

The prospect of serving in another state often came with a mixture of excitement, anxiety and expectation. For parents, it was an opportunity to watch their children take another step towards independence. For the graduates, it was a chance to experience Nigeria beyond the boundaries of their immediate communities.

But as insecurity continues to cast a shadow over the country, that familiar journey is increasingly accompanied by a disturbing question: Will the young graduate who leaves home to serve the nation return safely?

The reported abduction of corps members travelling to Imo State, alongside concerns over similar incidents involving young graduates elsewhere, has intensified public anxiety about the safety of participants in the national service scheme.

For families who have invested years of sacrifice in educating their children, the prospect of receiving a distress call from kidnappers rather than news of a safe arrival at an orientation camp is a frightening possibility.

The controversy has also reopened a difficult national conversation about the relevance, structure and compulsory nature of the NYSC.

While some Nigerians insist that the scheme remains indispensable to national integration and should be strengthened rather than abandoned, others argue that compulsory participation has become difficult to justify when adequate protection cannot be guaranteed.

Between these positions lies a fundamental question of public responsibility: Can a government continue to demand national service from young people without making their safety an enforceable priority?

The NYSC was established to promote national unity and reconciliation following the Nigerian Civil War. Its underlying philosophy was that bringing young graduates from different backgrounds together would encourage understanding, reduce prejudice and strengthen a shared national identity.

For decades, corps members have taught in schools, worked in hospitals, supported public institutions, contributed to community development and participated in initiatives aimed at improving living conditions in their host communities.

Yet, the scheme's noble intentions cannot shield it from scrutiny when the circumstances surrounding participation change.

Precious Nnenna Okon, a corporate communications professional, believes the time has come to reconsider compulsory participation.

"I believe it is time to reconsider compulsory participation and make the scheme voluntary. National service should be an opportunity to contribute to national development, not an obligation that exposes young people to avoidable danger. While the NYSC promotes national unity, this must not come at the expense of corps members’ safety and welfare," she said.

Her position challenges the assumption that national service must remain compulsory regardless of prevailing security conditions.

If the purpose of the scheme is to encourage patriotism and civic responsibility, critics argue, the experience should inspire confidence in the country rather than deepen anxiety about its ability to protect its citizens.

However, making participation voluntary raises another question: would such a change undermine the scheme's reach and its capacity to bring young Nigerians from different parts of the country together?

For Precious, the immediate concern is not whether national unity matters, but whether it can be pursued without exposing young graduates to unnecessary risks.

She also called for stronger partnerships between the NYSC and security agencies to facilitate safer deployments, timely intelligence sharing and swift responses to threats.

"Postings to high-risk areas should be regularly reviewed, with the safety of corps members taking priority. We must preserve the ideals of national unity while adapting the scheme to Nigeria’s current security realities," she added.

That argument points towards reform rather than abandonment: retaining the scheme's central purpose while changing the arrangements that may leave participants vulnerable.

For Kehinde Oladimeji, an administrative officer, the problem begins with a deployment system that can require young graduates to travel long distances to unfamiliar locations without adequate security arrangements.

"NYSC members are vulnerable because they are forced to travel long distances to unfamiliar, often high-risk areas with poor security tracking," he said.

He advocated an end to mandatory far-postings and risky road travel, alongside more voluntary or state-based placements, secure transport, real-time tracking and stronger security partnerships.

He also called for a modernised service model supported by appropriate insurance and accommodation standards.

The concern is particularly significant because the journey to an orientation camp can expose corps members to risks before they even begin their official assignments.

Graduates may have to navigate unfamiliar roads, rely on commercial transport and make independent travel arrangements across multiple states. Where security intelligence is poor or emergency response systems are inadequate, the consequences of an incident can be devastating.

Barnabas Inumidun Akindele, a public relations and communications strategist, believes this is where reform should begin.

"The greatest danger is clearly the journey to and from orientation camps, and that is where reform must start," he said.

He proposed that the NYSC coordinate secure, tracked journeys through vetted transport operators instead of leaving corps members to travel independently along known high-risk routes.

He also called for a clear emergency protocol covering rapid response, family communication, insurance and psychosocial support for survivors.

Such measures would shift the responsibility for travel safety from individual corps members to an organised system designed to identify and manage risks.

Dr Charles Oniye, a realtor, similarly argued that the security of corps members must be prioritised, whether they are travelling or working at their primary places of assignment.

"One of the most critical reforms that must be prioritized within the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme is the security of lives," he said.

"The safety and protection of corps members who have volunteered to serve the nation should be of paramount importance. Security agencies must remain on high alert to ensure their safety, whether they are in transit or at their places of primary assignment."

His intervention underscores an important distinction: protecting corps members cannot begin and end at the orientation camp. It must extend throughout the service year, including their accommodation, daily movements and workplaces.

For many defenders of the scheme, the argument for reform must not become a justification for abandoning an institution that has helped generations of Nigerians build relationships across ethnic, religious and cultural boundaries.

Dr Sewhude Akande, Director-General of BTDC, believes the scheme remains relevant despite the security challenges confronting the country.

"Corps members have increasingly become soft targets for kidnappers. While this reflects the wider insecurity in Nigeria, we must also recognise that the NYSC remains an important tool for national integration in a country where ethnic suspicion still exists. I do not believe the scheme has outlived its purpose, but the safety of corps members must be a priority," he said.

His position reflects a wider concern that the erosion of opportunities for young Nigerians to live and work outside their familiar environments could weaken one of the country's established mechanisms for promoting social cohesion.

However, the question is whether national integration must necessarily depend on compulsory interstate deployment under every security condition.

Dr Akande proposed that corps members attend orientation camps in their states of residence, with organised and secure transportation provided for interstate deployment.

He argued that the country must address its wider insecurity while preserving the purpose of the scheme.

"We cannot sacrifice the lives of our young people, just as we cannot afford to sacrifice national unity," he said.

It is an argument that captures the dilemma confronting policymakers. National unity is important, but its pursuit becomes difficult to defend when the mechanisms designed to promote it fail to adequately account for the safety of participants.

A scheme intended to encourage young Nigerians to trust one another and their country should not inadvertently become a source of fear for the very families whose confidence in national institutions it seeks to strengthen.

Scrap it, suspend it or make it safer?

The debate has produced sharply contrasting opinions.

Emeka Williams, a journalist, questioned whether the scheme has fulfilled its unification objective, arguing that persistent ethnic, religious and political divisions raise concerns about the effectiveness of the investment in national service.

For him, the recurring abductions make the case for reconsidering whether the scheme should continue in its present form.

Obinna Inogbo, a communications consultant, went further, calling for an indefinite suspension until security agencies can demonstrate greater consistency in protecting lives.

"I think NYSC should be suspended indefinitely until security forces are more consistent in protecting lives, because lives of our youths who are looking toward bright futures after studying for years cannot be in this kind of jeopardy," he said.

The proposal is rooted in the belief that the state should not compel young people to participate in an arrangement whose risks it cannot adequately control.

However, suspension would also have implications for graduates, public institutions and communities that depend on corps members' contributions.

Dayo Emmanuel, a journalist, disagrees with the idea of abandoning the scheme, arguing that its founding purpose remains worthy of preservation.

"Some people have said the NYSC scheme should be scrapped. A Yoruba proverb says chopping off the head is no cure for headache. The founding fathers of the scheme meant well and it has been of help to millions of people and countless communities in Nigeria," he said.

He urged the Federal Government to research better ways of protecting lives and property, including providing escorts for corps members travelling to their deployment locations where necessary.

"You don't run away from problems, you confront them and overcome them," he added.

His argument raises an important policy consideration: whether the appropriate response to insecurity should be to abandon a national programme or redesign it to reflect current realities.

Yet, retaining the scheme without substantial changes would also be difficult to defend if the risks confronting participants remain inadequately addressed.

The more useful question, therefore, may be whether Nigeria can preserve the NYSC's social benefits while removing the expectation that graduates must accept dangerous postings as part of their service.

The debate over compulsory participation is not simply a contest between patriotism and fear. It also concerns the limits of state authority and the obligations that accompany it.

Anthony Abakporo, a clergyman, argued that reforming postings to allow corps members to serve in their states of origin would not necessarily resolve the problem because kidnapping occurs across the country.

He maintained that the Federal Government must address the wider security crisis rather than rely on changes to deployment arrangements alone.

That observation is important. A local posting may reduce the distance a corps member must travel, but it cannot guarantee safety in a country where insecurity affects multiple regions.

Nevertheless, reducing unnecessary travel, allowing greater flexibility and avoiding areas identified as high-risk could help limit exposure to foreseeable dangers.

Evans Ufeli, a legal practitioner, called for a security-led posting system based on current risk assessments.

"I would like to see a security-led posting system that uses current risk assessments, allows corps members to decline unsafe placements without penalty, and provides safe transport arrangements during mobilisation," he said.

He also advocated a clear emergency response protocol involving state governments and security agencies, supported by reliable reporting channels and transparent oversight.

Peter David, a customer service representative, similarly argued that deployments should be confined to secure areas, with greater consideration given to corps members' preferences and proximity to their families.

"If their protection cannot be guaranteed, participation in the scheme should become optional," he said.

These proposals suggest a possible middle ground: preserve national service while allowing participation and deployment arrangements to respond more directly to security realities.

But such a model would require clear criteria for identifying high-risk locations, transparent procedures for granting exemptions and safeguards against arbitrary decisions.

Without these measures, flexibility could become inconsistent, leaving some corps members protected while others remain exposed to risks they have little power to challenge.

For Naomi Onome, publisher of Primetimereports, the frequency of reported kidnappings calls for a more comprehensive approach involving the NYSC, security agencies, state governments and host communities.

She advocated thorough security assessments before deployment, improved accommodation and welfare, reliable emergency communication channels, adequate insurance and swift relocation for corps members facing credible threats.

She also stressed the need to prosecute offenders and address the wider conditions that allow criminal groups to operate.

Mike Osemeke, an online television producer, proposed allowing corps members to reject postings to high-risk locations without penalty.

He also called for regular safety briefings, emergency hotlines, secure accommodation and alternative service arrangements, including virtual or community-based service where necessary.

For Ashaolu Funmilola, an administrator, corps members could be posted within their geopolitical zones where travel routes are unsafe, with escorted daytime journeys to and from orientation camps.

She also advocated a 24-hour emergency line, counselling and insurance for survivors, alongside additional protection for female corps members.

These proposals point to a broader understanding of safety: preventing abductions where possible, responding rapidly when threats emerge and ensuring that victims and their families are not abandoned to navigate the aftermath alone.

Wale Fakuyi, an entrepreneur, described the recurring incidents as a painful gap between the ideals of national service and the realities confronting young Nigerians.

He called for risk-based posting, a centralised and escorted transit system, GPS tracking, mandatory insurance and a 24-hour distress centre linked to security agencies.

For Ifeanyi Samson, a UK-based social activist, the government must move beyond expressions of concern to enforceable standards, measurable targets and transparent reporting.

He argued that designated officials should be held responsible for implementing reforms, while independent security audits should assess deployment locations and identify failures.

"Accountability must not end with policy announcements; it must be demonstrated through action, measurable results, and consequences for failure," he said.

This is arguably one of the most important demands emerging from the debate.

A government may announce stronger security arrangements, but the public needs evidence that the measures work. Families need dependable channels for obtaining information, corps members need to know where to seek help, and authorities must be able to explain what happens when established safeguards fail.

Insurance and compensation, while necessary, cannot substitute for prevention. Nor can successful rescue operations erase the trauma suffered by abducted corps members and their families.

The ultimate test of reform should be whether it reduces exposure to danger and improves the state's ability to prevent, detect and respond to threats.

The renewed scrutiny of the scheme has also exposed questions about its wider relevance to young graduates.

Kehinde Michael Adeleye, a journalist, proposed restructuring the NYSC to include a mandatory one-year postgraduate training and mentorship programme tailored to graduates' disciplines.

Rather than treating the service year as an isolated national obligation, he argued that it should equip participants with practical experience, professional skills and industry knowledge.

Such a proposal broadens the debate beyond physical safety to the value young Nigerians derive from their service year.

If the scheme is to retain public confidence, its contribution to national development must be evident not only in the communities where corps members serve but also in the professional opportunities and practical experience available to participants.

That does not diminish the importance of national integration. Instead, it suggests that a modernised NYSC could pursue several objectives simultaneously: fostering social cohesion, strengthening community development, improving employability and protecting participants.

However, these ambitions require funding, competent management, effective oversight and a willingness to review practices that no longer serve their intended purpose.

Hon Laz Ogbonnaya, a politician, argued that the scheme's founding objectives remain noble but are undermined by corruption and poor management.

He maintained that the agency needs competent administration and cautioned against using the military to administer it, arguing that arbitrary abuse of power could worsen management problems.

His position highlights another dimension of reform: security measures alone will not resolve institutional weaknesses if the programme's administration, welfare systems and accountability structures remain inadequate.

Eberechi Obinagwam, a journalist, expressed frustration over the danger facing corps members and questioned the practicality of providing security escorts for every group of travellers.

Her position was that, given the country's current security challenges, young people should be allowed to serve where they are or choose their preferred locations until security improves.

Peterclaver Egbouche, a publisher, similarly argued that corps members are vulnerable partly because they travel frequently, while noting that insecurity affects Nigerians beyond the NYSC.

He advised corps members to limit unnecessary movement and travel only when essential.

Although these views differ in emphasis, they expose the limitations of asking individuals to manage dangers that require broader institutional responses.

Telling corps members to travel less may reduce some risks, but it does not resolve the structural problem of requiring graduates to report to unfamiliar locations without dependable arrang

Queen Phillips

NYSC: Between national unity, the peril of serving Nigeria

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