Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Katsina State, urged corps members to help curb election misinformation by verifying social media content before sharing it as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Nafiu said the growing sophistication of digital manipulation meant corps members needed to approach information online with greater caution, particularly as political activity intensifies ahead of the next electoral cycle.

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“Do not believe everything you see on social media.

Before you share, think through it. Check the picture and ask when it was first taken and whether there has been any manipulation,” he said.

The NYSC chief cited old photographs and videos that had been presented online as recent events involving the scheme as examples of how misleading content could quickly distort public understanding.

He also drew attention to artificial intelligence-generated material, warning that advances in AI and digital editing are making fabricated photographs, videos and other content increasingly difficult to distinguish from authentic material.

For corps members, Nafiu said, responsible social media use is more than a personal obligation.

It is part of their wider responsibility as participants in a national programme built around unity, discipline and responsible citizenship.

His warning comes as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum and social media increasingly becomes a major channel through which Nigerians receive political information.

Nafiu also reminded corps members that their responsibilities extend beyond avoiding false information.

Serving members are prohibited from participating in partisan political activities, including using their social media platforms to promote political parties or political interests.

“As corps members, you are not permitted to campaign for anyone.

Don’t use your social media handle to promote any political parties or political interests,” he said.

The restriction is particularly significant because corps members are expected to play a major role in the administration of the 2027 elections.

In May, Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan disclosed that more than 1.4 million ad hoc staff, largely drawn from the NYSC, were expected to be mobilised for the 2027 general elections.

INEC has described corps members as central to its election operations, with corps members accounting for nearly 90 per cent of Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers in many states.

The arrangement reflects a long-standing relationship between INEC and NYSC.

Corps members have served as election personnel since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, helping the electoral commission deploy personnel across the country’s numerous polling locations.

Nafiu therefore urged corps members to view election assignments as an opportunity to contribute to democracy rather than simply as an alternative to voting.

“You contribute better to democracy if you make yourself available to help deliver a credible, free and fair election as ad hoc staff.

You facilitate hundreds and thousands of people safely casting their ballots rather than you going to cast one yourself,” he said.

He added that while an individual ballot represents one vote, an election official can help large numbers of citizens exercise their constitutional right to vote.

“Your ballot is just one, but doing that assignment will help hundreds and thousands to fulfil their constitutional mandate,” he said.

The emphasis on neutrality is not new. Nafiu has repeatedly warned corps members this year against partisan political activity and the misuse of social media. In June, he cautioned serving members against attending campaign grounds in NYSC uniforms or displaying the scheme’s insignia at political events, stressing that such appearances could wrongly suggest institutional support for a political party.

The latest warning nevertheless carries added significance as the 2027 electoral cycle approaches and AI-generated content creates new challenges for voters, institutions and election administrators.

For young Nigerians who are among the country’s most active social media users, the ability to distinguish verified information from manipulated material could become an important part of protecting public trust during the election period.

Nafiu also encouraged corps members to take advantage of the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme, saying additional skills could strengthen their prospects after national service.

He urged them to use their education and acquired abilities responsibly, noting that Nigeria had invested substantially in developing its young people and expected them to make meaningful contributions to society.

The broader message from the NYSC leadership is therefore twofold: corps members must remain politically neutral while using their digital influence responsibly.

With more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel expected to support the 2027 elections, their conduct both online and at polling locations could have a significant bearing on public confidence in the electoral process.

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As Nigeria moves closer to another major election, Nafiu’s appeal places a powerful responsibility on corps members: think before sharing, verify before believing and remain neutral while helping others exercise their democratic rights.