Director-General of the Scheme, Major General Shuaibu
Ibrahim, who issued the marching order, insisted that only those that test
negative would be allowed entry into the camps.
Speaking during a live joint webinar by NYSC/NCDC organised
ahead of the 2022 Batch ‘A’ PCMs, the DG disclosed that those that test
positive to COVID-19 would be handed over to the Nigeria Centre for Disease
Control (NCDC) and State Ministry of Health Officials for treatment.
General lbrahim further disclosed that the collaboration
with NCDC has yielded good results, confirming that since the partnership
started, no casualty has been recorded in any of the Scheme’s Orientation Camps
across the country.
He lauded the federal government, Presidential Committee on
COVID-19 and the NCDC for their support for the Scheme, especially in the
conduct of hitch-free Orientation Camps since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the
country.
Ibrahim further advised the PCMs to be security conscious,
avoid night journeys, while also counselling them to break any journey that
would extend beyond 6:00pm.
“You can pass the night in any NYSC Orientation camp, NYSC
Secretariats, Corps Members’ Lodge, Military and security formations. I urge
you to take advantage of this opportunity because NYSC is a platform for those
that are serious. Posting and other services in NYSC are free, don’t give bribe
for posting,” he said.
The DG also stated that Call-up letters for the 2022 Batch
‘A’ Orientation Exercise would be ready on Sunday February 20, 2022.
In her submission, the NCDC/NYSC Project Lead for Safe Camp
Reopening, Dr Ladun Okunromade, assured that adequate preparations have been
put in place for the safe conduct of the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Orientation Exercise.
She said different variants of COVID-19 are ravaging the
world, while Nigeria has recorded over 1,300 cases of Lassa Fever with 46
deaths and 20 healthcare workers infected.
Okunromade advised the PCMs and other camp participants to
come to camp with facemasks, hand sanitisers; obey physical distancing, maintain
personal hygiene and also adhere to all COVID-19 safety guidelines.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa in his address
said “there will be facilities for vaccination in the camp for those that will
take either the first or second dose or third jabs and they to sight their
vaccination cards”.
He urged all camp participants to come to the Orientation
camps with their vaccination cards, emphasising that; “this is the 7th edition
of safe Camp Re-opening Webinar. We will continue to work hard to facilitate
the safe re-opening for all camp participants.
“The virus is still with us and we must continue to take
both personal and collective responsibility to ensure our safety,” he stated.
Also during the webinar, Corps member Ajilese Aliyu Adebayo
FC/21C/0113 commended the NYSC management for the safety measures put in place
during his Orientation course at the NYSC FCT Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja.