The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, raised the concern on Tuesday, August 19, while receiving a delegation of senior military officers from the Defence Headquartersin Gombe.
A Costly Replacement
Governor Yahaya explained that the state was forced to construct a new orientation facility in the Boltongo district after the Malam Sidi camp was handed over to the military.
“The Federal Government paid us only ₦1.4 billion in compensation, yet we have already spent over ₦5 billion to build a new NYSC orientation camp. That is almost three times the amount we were given,” Yahaya stated.
The Malam Sidi facility was originally built by the administration of former Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo for corps members’ mandatory orientation exercise before its takeover for the OPSC programme, which is overseen by the Defence Headquarters.
Community Concerns and Security Gains
The governor acknowledged that residents of Malam Sidi had initially expressed scepticism about hosting repentant Boko Haram members but said continuous engagement and collaboration with security agencies helped restore public 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.
While voicing his displeasure at the compensation paid, Yahaya nonetheless reaffirmed his administration’s support for the objectives of Operation Safe Corridor, pledging to continue collaborating with security agencies in the rehabilitation and reintegration of former insurgents.
Military Delegation’s Assessment Visit
Earlier, the leader of the visiting delegation, Rear Admiral Suleiman Haruna Abdullahi, said the Defence Headquarters team was in Gombe for an administrative assessment of Operation Safe Corridor’s operations.
“We have engaged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and members of the host community to better understand the realities on the ground. Our findings will be submitted to Defence Headquarters to strengthen good and effective governance,” Abdullahi explained.
Operation Safe Corridor, established in 2016, has been one of the Nigerian military’s most controversial programmes, designed to de-radicalise and reintegrate repentant Boko Haram fighters back into society.
