Lagos vows to keep virus from camp as MURIC seeks postponement

Besides, Lagos State Coordinator of the Corps, Eddy Megwa, has mandated close monitoring and screening of all the 2020 Batch A corps members and camp officials to ensure that no incident of coronavirus was recorded at the orientation camp.

Speaking at the two-day registration of the 2020 ‘Batch A’ corps members at the orientation camp at Iyana-Ipaja, he said the exercise, which was carried out at various points in the camp, was part of measures to allay fear of contacting the virus.

“We had to place all sanitisers, hand washing, temperature checking and other things that will serve as first aid to keep away the virus from our orientation camp.

“If you look around the orientation camp, we have placed hand washing kegs at the clinics, hostels, walk paths and everywhere so that everyone will key into the safety measures,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has canvassed postponement of the orientation exercise in order to prevent corps members and other persons from contracting coronavirus in camps.

In a statement issued by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group expressed doubts over the wisdom behind NYSC’s resolve to go ahead with the orientation exercise in the face of global outbreaks.

“While we agree that the outbreak of the virus is not the fault of NYSC officials, we insist that the planning of the orientation camps should take into cognizance the reality on ground.

“To be on the safe side, the exercise should be postponed by one or two months. We are talking of 350,000 skilled Nigerians. These are our children. They are the hope of this country. We should not put their lives at risk,” he stated.