Akande gives government low marks on youth infrastructure as NYSC suspends Cross River deployments

Asiwaju Busari Shaamsuddeen Akande, an educationist and former NYSC member in Cross River State, called for sustained investment in educational infrastructure and decent facilities for young people, beyond increases to corps members’ allowances. NYSC Director-General Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu suspended further deployments to the state after finding that the permanent camp in Obubra no longer met required standards. The state government temporarily moved orientation activities to the University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Akamkpa, while Governor Bassey Otu ordered rehabilitation of the Obubra camp. Its capacity, once about 2,500 corps members per stream, had fallen to fewer than 1,000 amid deteriorating infrastructure.