Orientation: Don’t Come With Fake COVID-19 Documents, NYSC Warns PCMs

The National Youth Service Corps on Tuesday warned prospective corps members for the 2021 Batch ‘C’ Stream 2 orientation course against coming to camp with fake COVID-19 documents for registration.

A statement issued by the NYSC Director (Press and Public Relations), Adenike Adeyemi, said its Director-General, Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, gave the warning during a live webinar jointly hosted by the NYSC and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in preparation for the orientation course.

He threatened that anyone caught with a fake COVID-19 document in camp “would be handed over to the law enforcement agents for prosecution.”

Ibrahim added that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of all NYSC orientation camps across the country.

He said, “Ensure that you are a good and law-abiding citizen. If you violate COVID-19 safety guidelines, we have COVID-19 vanguard in camp and you will be decamped.”

He stressed that the NYSC is a Federal Government agency that would key into the directive of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, directing all public servants to present evidence of COVID-19 vaccination starting from December 1 this year.

He urged all camp participants to get the COVID-19 vaccine before coming to camp and also be prepared to undergo COVID-19 test, adding that only those that test negative would be allowed entry into the camp, while those that test positive would be handed over to NCDC officials for treatment and management.

Ibrahim said the NYSC is in partnership with the National Primary Healthcare Agency and State Ministries of Health on the safe conduct of orientation courses.

The NYSC DG thanked the Federal Government and NCDC for supporting the scheme, especially in its orientation course activities since the outbreak of COVID-19.

While advising the prospective corps members against embarking on night journeys going to camp, he urged them to break their journey if it would take them beyond 6 pm.

Ibrahim counselled that they should pass the night in NYSC Secretariat, military barracks, corps lodge or other safe places.

The Director-General who added that the NYSC had completed seven orientation exercises since the outbreak of COVID-19 also warned the prospective corps members against the negative use of social media.

He however advised them to use social media to further promote the unity of the country.

The DG of NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, said there was the need to adhere to all COVID-19 safety measures, urging Nigerians to take responsibility.

Adetifa said, “Take personal responsibility and act collectively to ensure your safety and others. Make use of every opportunity in and out of camp to get the vaccine.

“Wear your facemasks in camp, avoid large gatherings, maintain social distance between you and the next person.”

The NCDC Project Lead on Safe Camp Reopening, Dr Ladun Okunromade, said all hands must be on deck to ensure that orientation camps meet the necessary key performance indicators.

She commended NYSC management for compliance with all the COVID-19 safety measures, adding that NCDC would continue to support the scheme.

According to her, preparations were in high gear targeted at infection-prevention and control measures against COVID-19.

“Anyone that tests positive to COVID-19 in camp will not be sent back home, but will be taken care of by the NCDC surveillance team,” she said.