Kwara governor re-equips decrepit NYSC camp

Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

The Kwara state government on Thursday delivered 400 new mattresses, 200 double trunk beds, 90 wooden benches and several consumable drugs to the Yikpata camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in a concrete step to make the camp liveable for the graduates deployed for the national service.

This comes just a few weeks after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq paid an unscheduled visit to the camp in Edu Local Government Area of the state, calling it a “penitentiary that is not fit for human living” and pledging to urgently, rehabilitate the camp to make the habitants more comfortable.

The governor, who visited the camp on June 19, had also apologised to the NYSC members and said the condition at the camp represents the general breakdown of basic infrastructure in the state. He said the visit to the camp was a challenge for him to make things better.

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Akanbi Shuaib, who represented the governor at the official handing over of the materials, said the development underscores the governor’s commitment to the welfare of the people.

Akanbi explained that the provision of the items will make the camp more comfortable for the occupants, calling on the NYSC members to consider the gesture as an incentive to be more patriotic.

“Our amiable governor is a man of his words. What we are seeing here today is a fulfilment of pledges made just over a month ago. We are therefore, celebrating a harvest from the governor that has the concern of the people in his heart,” Akanbi said.

State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Esther Kupolati, commended Gov. AbdulRazaq for the gesture which she said portrays the governor as a responsive and reliable leader who cares for the basic needs of the people.

“This gesture will go a long way to make camping more comfortable for the corps members and we promise to ensure that they are properly utilised and maintained,” Kupolati said.