Elections in Nigeria: NYSC Director General Seeks Maximum Security for Corps Members
The Director General of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, has expressed his deep concern for the safety and security of the organization’s members who will be participating in the forthcoming Edo State Gubernatorial Election on Saturday.
During his advocacy visit to the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army in Benin City, Ahmed appealed to all security agencies to provide maximum security for the Corps members and NYSC officials serving as electoral officers in the election. He emphasized the importance of their safety, citing the significant role they will play in the voting process.
Ahmed commended the Nigerian Army for its commitment to ensuring the security of the election and promised that the Corps members are fully sensitized and ready to abide by the electoral laws. He stressed that the Scheme has placed a high priority on the security and welfare of its members, who will be participating in the election as ad-hoc staff in all 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
A total of 2,550 Corps members are expected to participate in the election, and Ahmed seeks assistance from other security agencies to oversee the Corps lodges in the state up until after the election. He expressed his gratitude for the support of the Director General of the Nigerian Police Force, DIG Frank Mba, who assured that the force is ready to ensure a safe and crisis-free election.
"We want to assure you that we will all work together to ensure the safety and adequate protection of our Corps Members," Mba said, pledging the support of the police force in keeping the Corps members safe during the election.
The response from Major General OG Onubogu, who is on election monitoring in Edo State, echoed the same sentiments, reassuring Ahmed that the Nigerian Army is committed to providing maximum security for the Corps members. "We are beside you and will ensure that nothing happens to any Corps member," Onubogu said.
The significance of the NYSC’s participation in the election was also highlighted, with Ahmed citing the organization’s proven track record of success in previous elections. The move is seen as a bold step towards promoting youth empowerment and civic engagement in Nigerian elections.
