NYSC in A’Ibom debunks Sahara Reporters allegations

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Akwa Ibom State has expressed displeasure over an unfounded news report by Sahara Reporters alleging that corps members in the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp were compelled to surrender their phones by the State Coordinator, Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, for threatening to expose the feeding in the camp.

The scheme also debunked the report that corps members in the camp were made to fetch firewood and cook their food in the orientation camp.

The is contained in a statement by the NYSC Public Relations Officer in the State, Mr Anslem Udogwu, issued in Uyo and made available to newsmen on Monday, describing Sahara Reporters report as baseless, untrue and misleading.

Udogwu in the statement urged the general public to disregard the report of Sahara reporters as it is their stock in trade to rush to press without facts and balancing their reports as enshrined in the journalism profession.

“The attention of the Management of the NYSC Akwa Ibom State has been drawn to yet another unfortunate and misleading story from the stables of the Sahara Reporters alleging that Corps Members undergoing their orientation course at the state NYSC camp, Ikot Itie Idung, Nsit Atai Local Government Area had their phone numbers collected by the State Coordinator.

“Who also threatened them for exposing the poor feeding in the camp as well as being used to fetch firewood from the forest.

“Management wants to once again inform our stakeholders and the general public that the NYSC Akwa Ibom State Coordinator never collected any corps members’s phone numbers nor did she threaten any Corps Member.

“Further, corps members have never in Akwa Ibom State been asked or will ever be asked to fetch firewood as this is against the policy of the scheme.

“The Corps Members do not cook their meals themselves but rather help in the preparation of the ingredients for the meal.

“No corps member has ever been subjected to any corporal punishment in Akwa Ibom state NYSC camp nor has any been subjected to any physical abuse.

“To this end, we urge Sahara Reporters to desist from sensational journalism and imbibe the ethics of professionalism,” Udogwu said.

He called on the corps members in the orientation camp to go about their orientation course as their welfare and security would never be compromised by management.