Economic Hardship: Corps members lament hunger in orientation camps
In the midst of severe economic hardship and hunger in the country, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members undergoing orientation as part of the 2024 Batch A, Stream 1 are facing additional difficulties due to the escalating food prices in Mammy Markets located within the various camps nationwide.
Mammy Markets, set up in every NYSC orientation camp to provide an alternative to the camp-provided meals, have become a point of concern for many corps members as they grapple with the high cost of living.
While some corps members express dissatisfaction with the quality and quantity of the food offered in the camp, their financial constraints often prevent them from buying alternative meals from the Mammy Markets.
Reports from different orientation camps highlight the challenges faced by corps members in accessing affordable food options.
Jefferson, a corps member at the Bauchi NYSC Camp, took to social media, TikTok, to shed light on the situation.
He revealed that the steep prices at the Mammy Markets have compelled most corps members to rely solely on camp-provided meals.
Despite some individuals arriving at camp with substantial funds, many have quickly depleted their resources due to the high costs, leading to a scarcity of food for all.
In another account from a corps member in a Southern camp, it was mentioned that the camp coordinator had advised against depending solely on camp food, citing concerns about its adequacy for all corps members.
She said, “Our camp coordinator even told us to consider camp exit because the camp cannot feed everyone.”
Also, a corps member in Lagos, who preferred anonymity, said, “The camp meals are not sufficient enough for adults like us, but we all understand the situation of things in the country generally. The contractors who were given the job to buy food items would have been mobilised before now and the inflationary trends have caught up with that.
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“The government would have decided on what to allocate for feeding corps members before now and things have taken a new turn. If we have enough support from our parents and guardians, in terms of stipends, one would be able to buy from the Mammy Market to support what is served, but where is the money now? People are really hungry,” he said.
The plight of NYSC members in the face of rising food prices underscores the financial struggles and limitations faced by young people undergoing mandatory national service.
As the situation continues to unfold, efforts are needed to address these challenges and ensure the well-being of all corps members during their orientation period.
Meanwhile, NYSC has denied reports claiming high food prices in orientation camps, labeling them as unfounded and mischievous fabrications.
In a statement by Eddy Megwa, NYSC’s Director of Press and Public Relations, he said the allegations were “laughable, absurd, and unfortunate.”
Megwa condemned the circulating narrative, which suggested that a state coordinator encouraged corps members to leave the orientation camp due to food shortages.
“The story is nothing but a tissue of lies, intended to cause mischief,” stated Megwa.
NYSC management insisted that such a claim is baseless, particularly considering the experience and rank of the state coordinators involved, who are seasoned officials, many with over 25 years of dedicated service.
Megwa outlined the operational framework of the orientation camps, emphasizing the system of checks and balances in place to ensure a smooth and well-regulated course of activities, including the feeding of corps members.
“A Resident Officer from the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters is always present to oversee the adherence to policies and rules,” he explained.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brig Gen Yushau Dogara Ahmed, was also mentioned as playing a hands-on role, visiting camps each season to personally attend to the welfare of the corps members.
Megwa also touched on the regulation of camp markets, acknowledging that while they are shielded from exploitative practices, they are not immune to the broader economic challenges faced globally.
He took a stern tone against those behind the spread of the false claims, accusing them of seeking to profit at the expense of the nation’s peace of mind.
“Their actions inflict incalculable damage to our dear country and the psyche of our people,” he said.
The NYSC Director urged those disseminating falsehoods to cease their harmful activities and reminded that the scheme maintains an open-door policy, always ready to provide clarifications on its operations.
