Several prospective corps members, mobilized for the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, have been left stranded at the Kusalla orientation camp in Karaye Local Government Area of Kano State.
According to an anonymous source within the camp, who spoke to Daily Trust, the individuals were denied entry due to their late arrival.
Many of the stranded corps members are reportedly from far eastern and southern states, where they likely faced travel delays and challenges on their journey to the northern state.
This situation has sparked significant frustration among the prospective corps members, many of whom had traveled long distances to fulfill their national duty. Despite their efforts to reach the camp, they were barred from joining the orientation process, leaving them uncertain about their immediate future in the program.
One of the affected corps members expressed their dismay, saying, “It’s really sad that after undergoing a rigorous process to get here, we’re refused entry. Some of us received our call-up letters very late and spent two or three days on the road to get here.”
The stranded group, which numbers around 100, is now uncertain about their fate.
Another corps member recounted their ordeal: “I arrived at camp on Thursday, the second day of resumption. Our vehicle broke down along the way, and I didn’t reach Kano until around 1 a.m. I had to spend the day in Kano.
“The following day, while I was preparing to leave, a moving vehicle smashed my phone, damaging it. All my documents were stored on the phone, so I had to get it fixed, which took another day.
“I finally arrived at camp that night around 11 p.m., but everyone had gone to bed, and there was no one to attend to us, unlike in other camps where they reportedly register people throughout the night.”
The situation worsened when the stranded corps members were informed that the portal had been closed from Abuja, leaving them in a state of desperation. Some of them are reportedly struggling to afford food, and the situation has left some female corps members in tears.
The affected individuals are now calling on the relevant authorities to intervene and provide assistance, as they find themselves in a state of confusion and uncertainty.