Gombe Dissatisfied Over Low Compensation For NYSC Camp Takeover

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has expressed displeasure over the amount paid by the Federal Government as compensation for taking over the state-owned NYSC orientation camp to host Operation Safe Corridor.

OPSC located in Kwami, Malam Sidi is operated by defence headquarters for the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members.

The facility was a built by the Ibrahim Dankwambo administration for the mandatory three-week orientation course of corps members posted to the state.

Speaking through the Secretary to Government of Gombe State, Professor Ibrahim Njodi, while receiving a delegation of senior military officers from the Defence Headquarters on Tuesday, Yahaya said the state was compelled to embark on constructing a new orientation camp in Boltongo district after the takeover of the Malam Sidi facility.

“The Federal Government paid us only ₦1.4 billion in compensation, yet we have already spent over ₦5 billion to put up a new NYSC orientation camp. That is almost three times the amount we were given,” the governor lamented.

He explained that despite initial skepticism among residents of the host community, the government’s collaboration with security agencies has helped build confidence.

“Through constant engagement and well-mapped strategies, we have been able to allay the fears of our citizens, especially in Malam Sidi, where the programme is hosted,” he said.