The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. OlakunleNafiu, has cautioned corps members against spreading wrong information through social media, especially as the country approaches the general elections.

Nafiu, who was addressing the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course at the NYSC Camp in Katsina State yesterday, warned them against spreading misinformation, sharing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, or engaging in partisan political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He stressed that, as graduates, corps members have a responsibility to help reset society by ensuring that false or manipulated information does not gain wider circulation through their platforms.

To that end, Nafiu warned, “Before you share, think through it. Check the picture and ask when it was first taken, and whether there has been any manipulation,” adding that technology has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fabricated materials.

The NYSC chief also reminded corps members of the restrictions governing their participation in partisan political activities during national service, emphasising that they are barred from using their social media handles to campaign for political parties or interests while identifying themselves as corps members.

Disclosing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would likely deploy corps members as ad hoc staff during the 2027 elections, he urged them to remain responsible, disciplined, and politically neutral throughout the service year.

According to Nafiu, such deployment should be seen as an opportunity to contribute to credible, free and fair elections, but “appropriate action” would be taken if any corps member’s social media activities were traced to political promotion while wearing the NYSC identity.

He also urged them to be available when called upon to help facilitate the electoral process, saying that their participation as electoral officials could help thousands of Nigerians exercise their constitutional right to vote.

Meanwhile, the State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Evans Okwor, disclosed that a total of 1,333 corps members, comprising 759 males and 574 females, were registered for the orientation exercise, which commenced on August 5.

He added that though the camp clinic remained adequately equipped with essential drugs and staffed by 40 medical personnel, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists, dental therapists, a radiographer and a veterinary doctor, the most common health challenges recorded so far included malaria, typhoid fever, asthma, peptic ulcer, body pains and blood pressure-related conditions.