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

Nafiu gave the caution while addressing the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Katsina State on Wednesday.

The NYSC boss warned them against spreading misinformation, sharing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, or engaging in partisan political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking, the NYSC boss said corps members were not permitted to use their social media handles to campaign for political parties or political interests while identifying themselves as corps members.

He further cautioned corps members against blindly sharing information on social media, even as he urged them to remain politically neutral, responsible and disciplined throughout the service year.

He said 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.

He cautioned them not to believe everything they see on social media, adding, “Before you share, think through it. Check the picture and ask when it was first taken and whether there has been any manipulation.”

He cited the circulation of old videos and photographs falsely presented as recent incidents involving the NYSC, as examples of how misinformation could mislead members of the public.

He said corps members should be particularly careful about artificial intelligence-generated and digitally manipulated content, adding that technology had made it increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fabricated materials.

Nafiu also reminded corps members of the restrictions governing their participation in partisan political activities during national service.

“As corps members, you are not permitted to campaign for any political party or candidate. If your social media activities are traced to political promotion while wearing the NYSC identity, appropriate action will be taken,” he said.

He urged the corps members to develop critical thinking skills and verify information before reposting, sharing or commenting on content circulated on social media platforms.

He said that corps members were likely to be deployed as ad-hoc staff by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2027 elections.

He said such deployment should be seen as an opportunity for the corp members to contribute to the conduct of credible, free and fair elections.

He, therefore, urged them to make themselves available when called upon, saying their participation as electoral officials could help thousands of Nigerians exercise their constitutional right to vote.

Nafiu said corps members could contribute more to democracy by helping to facilitate the electoral process than by merely participating as individual voters.

Earlier, the State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Evans Okwor, disclosed that the orientation exercise commenced successfully on August 5 with the arrival of camp officials.

Okwor said a total of 1,333 corps members, comprising 759 males and 574 females, were registered, while 363 camp officials made up of 173 NYSC staff and 190 personnel from collaborating agencies are supporting the exercise.

He said the camp clinic remains 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.

He added 783 corps members and 40 camp officials have so far received medical attention, with 14 referrals made to the General Hospital, Katsina, while two patients remain on admission.

Okwor identified the most common health challenges recorded at the camp to include malaria, typhoid fever, asthma, peptic ulcer, body pains and blood pressure-related conditions.

Our correspondent reports that the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course, which began about 14 days, is scheduled to conclude on August 25, 2026.