Pre Travel Moments

After my final project in the university, I was over the moon that the phase of project and reading was over (My Final Year Struggles)  Also, the thought of NYSC (A one-year service every graduate must pass through to be fully accepted into the Labour market in Nigeria) not so far-fetched anymore was very appealing to me. I've been dying to leave my parents’ house for the longest time; this been that going for lectures was all done from the comfort of my parent's house. The need to change the environment, taste what it takes to be out there by myself would feel like and all of the adventures that follow suite was more then appealing to me.

With the whole university routine been done with, which entailed for a passing out student to complete their clearance and submit the required documentation to the appropriate office for the school to compile the names of qualified students and submit the list to the NYSC board. I continued about my normal routine and waited for the registration to commence. 

Six months went by and news for NYSC registration filled the news outlets and blogs. Whatsapp groups were created and people flocked into those groups including myself. Whatever news I felt wasn't sitting well with me, I'd ask my friend who happened to be among the anxious graduates awaiting NYSC thrill.

Normally, the portal for registration would first be opened for prospective graduates to register, after which call-up letter would be out then, the state one has been posted to would be disclosed. This is when one will know if their village people are vigilant or not because some persons go to the extent of paying a huge sum of money just to be posted to a place of their choice. After one has known their fate, the next thing is to pack up and report to camp (the whole scenario to me looks like when a soldier is being called to duty).

Before the day of registration, I was already dreaming of serving in Lagos. Honestly, I feel it's almost every prospective corps members wish to be posted to Lagos state. The reason for this wish, I can't categorically state for others but personally, I felt like a whole lot could happen in a space of one year and where else would I want to achieve my dreams except for the buzzing state. Lagos!

So I informed my mom that registration would be coming up soon therefore, she should let my aunt know so she could use her connections to make my wish possible. She did make the call and my aunt requested I inform her once my call up letter was out.

This was the part that messed the whole process up.

All didn't work out as planned as I didn't get to send the information my aunt wanted on time probably because she wasn't direct with what was needed to make the process smooth.

She was meant to ask for the call-up number on my green card, instead, she requested for call-up letter which I didn't apprehend properly. 

Guys, the call-up number was on my green card which I printed two days after I registered for the scheme. Whereas, a call-up letter is a letter you'd print out after you must have completed your registration, waited for 21 days, after which NYSC team must have resolved which state you'd be posted to. 

Nothing could be done after one has seen their call-up letter but there I was -  praying for a miracle to happen after I checked my NYSC portal to discover I've been posted to Kebbi State. 

I remember just sitting in my room with my mom and younger brother consoling me with a reassurance that something could still be done but I have to report to camp first. Mann, it was a terrible reveal and I just wished I could take back the hands of time. 

Having come to terms that my village people were fully on duty with regards to this my NYSC waka, I braced myself for what was to come.

Getting My Documents and Necessary Items

See ehn, all those things they post on WhatsApp groups that you should go with 20 passports, birth certificate, local government certificate are all bull crap. Simply follow the instructions on the call-up letter and report to camp with the documents as stated. NYSC doesn't need your numerous passports.

Now, the compulsory items are the white round neck polos and shorts - a minimum of four pieces each and a maximum of five but if you want to live like Dangote's child on camp may be a minimum of 15 each and maximum of 20 would be just fine. Na you go carry the load las las. Oh! Let's not forget to go with sanitary products, white canvas, extra pair of socks, provisions, and money (lots) - in case you decide to not eat the food prepared by the camp kitchen.

So I packed up my bag, and on a Wednesday morning I set out for the long bound and forbidden journey. 

Traveling To Abuja

I did my research on Kebbi state. Calculated the number of states I'd have to journey through and the number of hours I'd likely spend on the road. 

Traveling to Kebbi would likely take 24hours by road which entails traveling all through the night and sleeping on the road. I've never had such an experience and Mann, I wasn't into the traveling all day long. So I decided to divide the journey - Travel to Abuja, then, from Abuja to Kebbi.

I booked my ticket to Abuja via God Is Good Motors online - This transport line is top-notch in the South-South region. They offer comfort and smooth driving even though Nigerian roads legit make that unachievable.

I had a great time traveling to Abuja via God is Good motors. The bus occupants were virtually corps members posted to the Northern region of the country. 

I live in Port Harcourt, so we passed through Owerri, Onitsha, Asaba, Edo, Lokoja and viola, Abuja!

Abuja is quite a large city with one of the best road networks in the whole of the country - well, it's the capital so I wasn't so wowed! 

I spent the night at my uncle's place and the next day, I was up and out to Kebbi. 

Traveling To Kebbi State 

My trip to Kebbi was a long and terrible one. My uncle took me to the bus park and in a matter of minutes, the almost damaged sienna bus was fully loaded and good to go.

It was a 10 hours journey and the only state between Abuja to Kebbi is Niger State. So practically, we rode through Niger state for roughly 6 hours. I must note that Northern states have the largest landmass in Nigeria with little or no people in the states. Passing through Niger, and halfway Kebbi, the land was non-occupant and seemed more like a desert. This got me wondering if the election results called out by INEC were not genuine.

I got to Darkingari where the camp was located by 6pm in the evening. I was checked and cleared by NYSC officials in the gate, got my mattress and located a bunk. 

I eagerly wanted a bottom bed space but since I arrived late, that was not achieved. 

I completed most of my registration that day and retired to my room. The whole night went like the speed of light. The next thing I heard was the forbidden biggle. I decided not to wear my white on white that day. I hadn't completed my registration so I wore my normal clothes out. I had an encounter with a soldier that morning - who later turned out to be an acquaintance.

                We were sworn in, and the camp was declared open.

















I had a great time while in camp. Reflecting back, one of my major highlights while in the camp was morning parades. Parades were done twice a day (mornings and evenings) excluding Sunday morning - the only day we were given leisure time till 2pm. Once it gets past 2pm, we return to our normal parade.

My Platoon Corps Commandant goofing around

Another thing that struck a chord for me was the fact that a female corps member was chosen as the parade commander for my platoon (9). That was a great thing and she went about carrying out her responsibility diligently.

The soldiers in the camp were generally friendly and simply followed instructions given to them by the camp commandant. Although, some female soldiers were overboard annoying and I had an encounter with one. Still, all was good.

The sun in the state was scorching hot and I believe it still is. I think it rained just twice all through my stay there. Wearing makeup under such a state seemed like stress to me so I never bothered. The sun was so hot that I became darker in complexion and one could visibly see the demarcation of colors the sun had on my skin.

While I was having fun, I prayed vehemently to be redeployed to Delta state. So when we were told relocation form was out, I didn't hesitate to get one - filled it and submitted. 

Slowly, the days glided away and I was having a nice time. Each platoon showed off their competitive strength during parades and also during social activities which ranged from Mr. Macho, Miss Lepka, Miss Nysc, Mr. Cooperate, etc. The sharia law in Kebbi state was overboard thus most of the social activities were a tad too boring. 

Oh! did I forget to mention that yours truly was among the Red Cross? I joined the community halfway to the end of the camp. Although I was never on duty because the parade never gave me such an opportunity. Also, I tried my hands on volleyball and it was an epic fail. The opposing team on the day of my platoon playoff messed us up.


The camp was coming to an end, and I was gladly counting down to the day of the closing ceremony.


I was chosen to be among the color party parade. A group that consisted of six persons with me being among. We were meant to parade and match our souls out and exhibit military aura because the state's governor would be present (the man no come show oo) alongside the top three platoons that emerged winners during an inter-platoon parade competition. 




The last day of camp finally arrived and that morning, everyone packed up their bags, took them out of the hostel to a secure place to avoid their luggage being tampered with. The last day also came with the closing ceremony and the selected paraders paraded for the closing ceremonies. I matched as my strength could carry me - Military exhibition ko! I can't come and kill myself by myself!





The peck of being among the color party was, I had the privilege of being among the first persons to check their relocation status at the admin block.

So after we finished parading, and left the parade ground, other copers were instructed not to leave their respective positions. I rushed to the admin block to where my code fell under and quicky sited my name and thank Heavens, I had been redeployed to Delta State. 

Immediately, the whole place was filled with anxious corpers, pushing and shoving each other to get into different queues. I barely made my way through the crowd. As I stepped aside, I glanced through the room filled with people I had spent 21days with - fellow Nigerian youths donned in their Khaki and Jungle boots eager to know what their fate was and a doze of gratefulness washed over me for not being among the struggling crowd, also, for a time well spent in the camp.

I said my goodbyes and rushed to where I had kept my luggage, grabbed them and headed for an available bus down to Arungugu in Kebbi state where I spent the night at my uncle's house. I think I was among the first to leave camp.

The next day, I left for Abuja where I spent the night. After which en-route Port Harcourt.


Tips for prospective corps members

• Be yourself while in the camp.

• As an introvert I barely had a clique or group I went to Mami-market with or stuffs like that, but I was perfectly okay going about my activities. The cheering thing is not making decisions just to feel among - you'd be seen for who you are. 

• No go dey form James Bond for soldiers. Respect and obey the rules of the camp. In a matter of days, you'd be out of there.

• No go dey do pass yourself. Eat what you can afford and spend wisely. The real service starts when you leave the camp. So you might as well be economical while spending.