“…The day we arrived camp was the day of the swearing in ceremony. Some people had come 2 days earlier, so all we got were remnants.
The least desirable hostel, the least desirable outfits and even the least desirable bunk in the hostel.
My crested vest was a jumper. My shoes were too small for my feet, my trousers were 4 times my size and the jacket was too small for my broad shoulders. Only the cap fitted in well.
I queried the NYSC staff on why they requested for our measurements during the registration if they were just going to sew Sam Loco crop top and give to us. That one laughed at me and directed me to the tailors that would shape and adjust the clothes for me.
I was shocked once again when I found out that they were shaping one cloth for #1,500. How could that be? Shaping of clothes in Nsukka was #100 naira to #200 naira then.
I thought things were supposed to be cheaper in the North? What’s now happening?
Apparently, the NYSC Camp directors usually charge traders and service providers extremely huge amount of money to permit them to sell inside Camp.
Like one tailor, NYSC would charge him in excess of 100,000 just to allow him sew inside the camp for a period that is often less than one week as no one would require their services after the shaping excercise.
It was similar with phone chargers, food sellers, fruit sellers, shoe makers, etc.
One then wonders why such level of corruption perpetrated by NYSC has never made it to the public domain.
Another curious question was why NYSC ensured that all the suckets in all the hostels and halls were removed so that corp members won’t see where to charge their phones.
Then they must be forced to patronize phone chargers inside Mami market, who charge almost 200 naira and above to charge ordinary phone.
A service that people got outside the camp for 50 naira, and wouldn’t be needed if they were allowed to charge their phones.
One wonders, if the Corp members are allowed to use phones, why aren’t they allowed to charge it? Or was that a way of NYSC systematically exploiting corp members?
What is the rationale behind making things 4 times more costly in camps than the Streets?
I quizzed myself severally, almost crying as I brought out 1,500 naira to shape ordinary cloth.
After that, I had to then start looking for who was given oversized shoes so I could exchange with my own undersized shoes.
My power bank was also dead as a result of the 2 days journey, so I had to take it to Mami to charge.
One thing was also evident in the plot to drain corp members. The water sellers at Mami market hardly brought pure water to sell. Whenever you see pure water, then it must be hot.
The only cold water was bottled water which you had to buy for 200 naira as against pure Water of 20 naira.
I was still gripping with these realities when those who went for the inauguration came back in, fully kitted in their 7/7.
And it was time to eat. They started grabbing their meal tickets and food flasks and started heading for this kitchen.
This life in camp is becoming real. Can son of man survive here?
DUKE THE NIGERIAN
(SERVING MY FATHERLAND, Season 4; Episode 6) was brought to you by Ugwuagbo Emmanuel Chizoba Daniel (Zoba De Great)
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