Brothers and sisters, the NYSC has finally put a calendar on the table: physical verification for foreign‑trained graduates will run from 8th to 12th September 2026. Nine verification centres have been earmarked for Batch ‘C’ Stream I service year. The announcement may look like routine paperwork, but e get serious implications for thousands of Nigerians who spent years abroad hoping to serve their homeland.
Verification centres
- Abuja – Asokoro
- Lagos – Ikeja
- Port Harcourt – Garrison
- Benin City – G.R.A.
- Kano – Kano Secretariat
- Enugu – Enugu Campus
- Jos – Jos Campus
- Calabar – Calabar Campus
- Owerri – Imo State University
Now, make we ask ourselves: why does it take NYSC until the last minute to set these dates? For many of us, the waiting game has cost precious time, money and morale. The bureaucratic treadmill seems to treat foreign‑trained graduates as an afterthought, even though they bring back skills that could help rebuild our industries. E be like say una don carry una destiny throway for gutter while the system dey shuffle papers.
The verification process itself is riddled with questions. Will the centres have enough staff to handle the influx? How will those who cannot travel to the designated locations be accommodated? The current setup assumes that everyone can simply hop on a flight or bus, ignoring the reality of visa expirations, family obligations and financial constraints.
What we need is a transparent, well‑planned system that recognises the value of our diaspora. Instead of a five‑day scramble, NYSC could roll out regional hubs, mobile units or even digital pre‑screening to ease the burden. The government says it wants to harness the diaspora for nation‑building; the execution must match the rhetoric.
So, fellow Aproko‑nation members, how una feel about this schedule? What suggestions una get for making the verification smoother and less punitive? Share una thoughts, because the future of our service year depends on collective pressure on the NYSC to do better.