Zulum Flags Security, Proposes NYSC Camp Relocation to Auno

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has proposed the relocation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp from its current location within Maiduguri city to Government Secondary School, Auno, citing security, sustainability and room for future expansion.

The governor made the proposal on Friday during an inspection of the Auno facility alongside the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, and other senior officials of the scheme.

Zulum said the idea was not driven by short-term convenience but by long-term planning, especially considering the growing number of corps members posted to the state each year. He noted that the current location of the NYSC camp within the city centre limits expansion and poses increasing security concerns.

According to the governor, the proposed site in Auno offers better prospects for controlled access and protection. He explained that the area can be effectively fortified, adding that security formations and a military checkpoint already exist within close range of the facility.

Zulum also highlighted infrastructure developments around the proposed site. He said an ongoing bypass project located about two to two and a half kilometres away would significantly improve access to the area once completed.

He added that the presence of a state university and a teaching hospital, expected to be commissioned within the next two to three months, further strengthens the strategic importance of the location. According to him, these institutions would also be beneficial to corps members posted to the camp.

Providing details of the facility, the governor said the site consists of two hostels with eight dormitories, a dining hall with a kitchen, and 26 classrooms, each with attached offices. He said the facility also includes seven laboratories and 12 additional rooms.

Zulum disclosed that the classrooms alone can accommodate between 1,300 and 1,500 corps members at a time. He added that the site is equipped with an overhead water tank and a functional solar-powered borehole, ensuring steady water supply.

On welfare for officials, the governor pledged that the state government would provide accommodation for NYSC staff. He said this could include the possible acquisition of additional housing units within the Federal Mass Housing Estate to ease operational challenges.

In his remarks, Brigadier General Nafiu praised Zulum for what he described as a rare and forward-looking initiative. He said not many states take proactive steps toward establishing or upgrading permanent orientation camps.

The NYSC Director General revealed that the Federal Government has been increasing the number of corps members mobilised each year. He said the figure rose from 300,000 to 350,000, then to 400,000, and is projected to reach 450,000 by 2026.

According to him, this steady increase has placed pressure on existing orientation facilities across the country, making expansion and security more critical than ever.

He stressed that security remains a major consideration in the deployment of corps members nationwide. Nafiu commended the Borno State Government for involving key security stakeholders, including the Garrison Commander and the Theatre Intelligence Commander, in assessing the proposed site.

Earlier, the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Hon. Bukar Tijani, explained that the Auno facility was developed by the state government but never put into operation.

He said although the entire compound is fenced, parts of the perimeter wall had collapsed due to prolonged disuse and animal intrusion. According to him, these issues can be addressed once the facility is officially taken over and upgraded for NYSC use.

For many residents of Borno, the proposal signals a renewed effort by the state government to balance youth service with safety. If approved, the relocation could mark a major shift in how corps members are received and protected during their orientation period.

As The Gazette News (Nigeria) reports, the proposal is expected to undergo further assessments and consultations before a final decision is reached.