NYSC, NSCDC decry drowning of corps members in Bayelsa

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayelsa State, Wednesday, lamented death of corps members in the state through boat mishaps.

The two agencies raised the concern when the new state Commandant, NYSC, Mrs. Loto Bolade paid a courtesy visit to the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Desmond Agu, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Corps members serving in some riverine communities in the state have been losing their lives following boat mishaps.

But Agu urged NYSC authorities to impress it upon youths participating in the scheme especially persons posted to the coastal areas to always make use of their life jackets when traveling.

He said: “Bayelsa State has a different terrain. It is 70 per cent water. So, always tell the corps members to carry their life jackets and wear them whenever they are traveling. Even if they can swim, they should not be over-confident.

“NYSC should also ensure that they are constantly in touch with youths posted to remote areas. Always keep in touch with the youths and ensure that their employers are treating them well”.

Agu said his command would always contribute to the success of NYSC programmes in the state by providing the needed security.

He advised that all federal agencies should work together to assist one another in the discharge of their duties adding that agencies should not work in acrimony.

In her response, Bolade said NYSC was working hard to ensure that members of the corps posted to rural areas in the state were given life jackets.

“We will continue to talk to the corps members posted to the riverine areas to always wear their life jackets. We will keep talking to them”, she said.

Bolade, who was redeployed from Niger State, thanked the NSCDC for its cooperation especially in the areas of security.

She appealed to the command for more support and demanded security presence at the Kaiama camp for the forthcoming orientation programme.