VANGUARD
As NYSC refutes claim
By Adesina Wahab, Efe Onodjae and Luminous Jannamike
LAGOS: The high cost of living in the country is not sparing members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who are currently undergoing the 2024 Batch A, Stream 1 orientation in different camps across the country, as the corps members are complaining about the soaring food prices in the Mammy Markets in those camps.
The Mammy Markets are stationed in every NYSC orientation camp for those unable to endure the queues for camp-provided food.
Investigation by Vanguard also showed that despite the displeasure of some corps members with the quality and quantity of meals in the camps, many are unable to afford augmenting such meals by buying from Mammy Markets because of paucity of funds.
Situations in orientation camps
A corps member, who simply identified himself as Jefferson in Bauchi NYSC Camp, shared on TikTok that the exorbitant costs in Mammy markets have forced nearly all corps members to queue for camp food.
He stated, “Everyone wants camp food due to the unaffordable prices in the Mammy Market. Those who brought thousands to the camp have exhausted their funds within two days. Now, food is scarce for all corps members. We are even fighting to be in the queue and receive very little food.”
Another corps member in the Southern part of the country mentioned that the camp coordinator advised corps members not to rely on camp food, as it is not supposed to be sufficient for everyone.
She said, “Our camp coordinator even told us to consider camp exit because the camp cannot feed everyone.”
Also, a corps member in Lagos, who preferred anonymity, said, “The camp meals are not sufficient enough for adults like us, but we all understand the situation of things in the country generally. The contractors who were given the job to buy food items would been mobilised before now and the inflationary trends have caught up with that.
“The government would have decided on what to allocate for feeding corps members before now and things have taken a new turn. If we have enough support from our parents and guardians, in terms of stipends, one would be able to buy from the Mammy Market to support what is served, but where is the money now? People are really hungry,” he said.
NYSC refutes allegation
Meanwhile, NYSC has denied reports claiming high food prices in orientation camps, labeling them as unfounded and mischievous fabrications…
