Some Nigerians youth advocates have disagreed with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s much-talked-about reforms of the National Youth Service Corps.

The president and secretary of a youths’ coalition, Abdulrahman Sani and Grace Nwafor, made this known view in a statement on Sunday.

Recall President Tinubu had announced NYSC reforms for the first time since it’s establishment
The reforms are expected to introduce civilian leadership rather than military with a three-phase orientation camp.

However, the youths led by Sani and Nwafor have championed a call for the government to retain the current NYSC leadership structure.

They warned that stripping the scheme of its traditional structure could weaken one of Nigeria’s most enduring instruments for national unity, discipline, and emergency service.

The youths argued that the reforms should not alter the identity of an institution that has served the country for over five decades.

“We sincerely beg him to pause this process and allow broader stakeholder engagement before any irreversible decision is taken.

“It would be unfortunate if the NYSC gradually loses its identity and becomes known merely as another government skills acquisition program. Skills are important, but they are not the reason the scheme was created. Its greatest achievement has been bringing young Nigerians together across ethnic, religious, and regional divides at a time when our country desperately needed healing.

“Across the world, countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Israel and Switzerland continue to expose their young citizens to structured national or military service because they understand that national development depends not only on knowledge but also on discipline, sacrifice and civic responsibility. Nigeria should strengthen that tradition rather than weaken it.

“When COVID-19 placed enormous pressure on our healthcare system, it was not only permanent government workers who answered the call. Hundreds of NYSC doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory scientists stood on the frontlines in isolation centres and public hospitals across the country. During elections, disease outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies, corps members have repeatedly proven that the NYSC is a national emergency asset, not just a youth programme.”

They dismissed suggestions that the reforms were introducing digital innovation into the scheme, noting that mobilisation, deployment, documentation and records management have already been substantially automated.

“It is difficult to present digitalisation as a new reform when the NYSC has, for years, operated one of the most advanced digital administrative systems in the public service. The bigger challenge is funding. Give the scheme adequate resources, modern facilities and stronger welfare, and it will continue to deliver even greater value to Nigeria.”

The youths urged the national assembly to subject any amendment to the NYSC Act to extensive public hearings, insisting that reforms affecting generations of Nigerian youths should reflect the views of those who have built, managed and benefited from the scheme over the decades.

Passengers using the Abuja-Kaduna train service have expressed concern over the continued reduction in train operations along the corridor.

The route, which at one time recorded about five trips daily from both ends, has now been reduced to a single trip, forcing passengers to compete for the limited tickets amid allegations of black-market racketeering.

This is in addition to the suspension of operations every Wednesday to allow for maintenance of train engines and the rail tracks.

According to report, the latest reduction began penultimate Friday, one of the four days when the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) previously operated two trips because of high passenger demand from both Abuja and Kaduna.

Before the development, the NRC operated two trips on Fridays and Saturdays from Abuja, while similar schedules were maintained on Sundays and Mondays from Kaduna to cater to the high number of passengers travelling to and from the Federal Capital Territory for weekend activities.

Sources at the Kubwa Train Station said he the reduction became necessary after one of the two locomotives serving the route developed a mechanical fault.

“As you may know, each train operates with two engines – one at the front of the coaches and another at the rear,” one source said.

“The front engine powers the train to its destination, while the rear engine is used for the return journey. Each engine also serves as a backup for the other.

“With one of the engines currently faulty, we have had to reduce operations to a single trip daily because it would be risky to operate two trips using only one engine.”

The situation has compounded the challenges faced by travellers, making tickets increasingly difficult to obtain through both online and over-the-counter channels.

Passengers currently purchase tickets under three categories – economy, business class and executive – with different prices for online and physical purchases.

Economy tickets purchased online 48 hours before departure cost about N4,000, while over-the-counter tickets, when available shortly before departure, cost N3,500.

Business class tickets cost N7,000 online and N6,500 over the counter, while executive class tickets sell for N13,000 online and N12,000 at station counters.

Speaking on the development, a passenger, Comrade Adamu Abdulmumini, who travels along the corridor twice weekly, said the purpose for which the rail service was established had gradually been undermined since the end of the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, under whom the service was inaugurated.

He alleged that the ticketing system now resembles a black-market operation.

“Passengers find it almost impossible to secure tickets online because the portal hardly works, while over-the-counter tickets are sold only a few minutes before departure, if they are available at all,” he said.

“Instead, people are advised to buy tickets from individuals outside the station, who sell them at exorbitant prices.

“Because passengers are desperate to travel by train, many have no choice but to buy from these people, who may be staff members or agents.”

He added that such tickets often bear names different from those of the actual passengers using them.

Another passenger, Abigail Gani, said she spent almost a week trying unsuccessfully to obtain an online ticket before finally securing one for Saturday’s trip last Friday.

According to her, economy tickets that officially cost between N3,500 and N4,000 are resold on the black market for between N5,000 and N10,000.

Another commuter, Ismaila Idris, said repeated attempts to buy tickets online had resulted in his account being debited several times without successful bookings.

“The same thing happened to my wife. After reporting the issue, the management told her the problem was with her bank.

“The bank promised to refund the money if it was responsible, but she has yet to receive the refund,” he said.

Another passenger, Thank-God Aya, who travelled from Mararaba in Nasarawa State to the Kubwa Train Station, said he was disappointed after being informed that over-the-counter tickets were unavailable.

Similarly, Abraham Jacob said he waited for ticket sales to commence but was unable to secure one.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the NRC were unsuccessful.

The Kubwa Train Station Manager, Shedrack Kure, declined to comment, saying he was not authorised to speak to the media on matters relating to train operations.

However, another official at the station, who requested anonymity, said the Abuja-Kaduna rail service was facing serious operational challenges, including inadequate locomotives and coaches.

A source at the Federal Ministry of Transportation also said about N5 billion would be required to fully revamp the corridor.

“Even if 10 trips were operated daily from both ends of the corridor, they would still attract enough passengers,” the source said.

“There was an attempt to move an additional locomotive from Lagos, where it is currently at an NRC warehouse, but the plan has yet to receive approval due to a lack of political will.”

Former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Baba Tela, has lost his children, Mustapha and Ummi, in a road crash.

The siblings died along the Bauchi-Azare road, on Saturday.

The duo died on the spot while other occupants of the vehicle sustained injuries and are receiving treatment.

Their bodies were taken to a hospital in Bauchi, where they were confirmed dead.

The funeral prayer, which held at the Bauchi Emir’s Palace, was attended by hundreds of Muslim faithful, sympathisers and well wishers.

They were later buried according to Islamic rites.

Reacting to the tragedy, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, said he received the news with profound shock and sadness, describing the incident as a painful tragedy that has cast a shadow of grief over the state.

The governor said the loss of the two siblings was not only a devastating blow to Senator Tela and his family but also a painful loss to the people of Bauchi State.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, the governor prayed that Almighty Allah grant the deceased eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus and give their family the strength and patience to bear the loss.

He urged the bereaved family to take solace in the will of Allah, reminding them that every soul will return to its Creator at the appointed time.

Governor Mohammed also sympathised with those injured in the crash and prayed for their speedy recovery.

He called on residents of the state to pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for Allah to grant comfort to their family.