The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has issued an important travel and safety advisory for all 2026 Batch A Stream I prospective corps members, with a clear message: do not travel at night on your way to orientation camps. This advisory, shared on the NYSC’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, is part of the Scheme’s efforts to ensure the well-being and safety of graduates who are mobilising for their mandatory national service year.

According to the safety directive, prospective corps members must undertake their journeys during daylight hours only and avoid night travel due to heightened risks associated with insecurity and road accidents across various parts of the country. In these uncertain times, travelling after dark significantly increases vulnerability to roadside dangers, including criminal activities and hazardous road conditions that are more prevalent at night.

To enhance safety while on the road, the NYSC advised corps members to use only registered transport companies and approved motor parks. This reduces the likelihood of being stranded in unsafe locations or falling victim to unverified, unsafe operators.The advisory also encouraged travellers to share their real-time location with family members or trusted contacts for continuous monitoring during the journey. Keeping loved ones informed of your whereabouts can make a critical difference in emergency situations.

In addition, the Scheme reminded prospective corps members to keep their mobile phones fully charged and carry power banks so they remain reachable throughout the trip. They were also urged to speak up if a driver engages in speeding or reckless driving — silence in such situations could put lives at risk.

Crucially, NYSC instructed that if a journey becomes late or it gets dark before arrival, travellers should stop at the nearest safe location and continue the next day, stating that no journey is worth risking a life.Prospective corps members were encouraged to plan their travel carefully, adhere strictly to the guidelines, and prioritise personal safety above all.

Following the announcement shared on the NYSC’s X handle (formerly Twitter), many Nigerians have questioned the relevance and structure of the National Youth Service Corps scheme. While some questioned its continued importance and called for its scrapping, others argued that prospective corps members should be deployed within their geopolitical zones, areas they are more familiar with, in order to reduce security risks and improve safety.

What are your thoughts about this argument?