A human rights organisation , the Muslim Rights Concern , has urged the National Youth Service Corps to postpone its ‘ Batch A’ orientation camp exercise due to the outbreak of coronavirus in Nigeria .

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of the group , Prof . Ishaq Akintola .

The group said , “ Authorities of the NYSC on Sunday , March 8 , told prospective youth corp members not to panic over coronavirus outbreak .

“ According to NYSC , certain preventive measures have been put in place to prevent any outbreak of the virus in its 37 orientation camps nationwide .

“ But we express doubts over the wisdom behind the resolve of the NYSC to carry on with the orientation exercise in the face of the outbreak .

“ To be on the safe side, the exercise should be postponed by one or two months.

“ We are talking of 350, 000 skilled Nigerians . These are our children . They are the hope of this country . We should not put their lives at risk.

“ Events are being postponed across the world . Saudi Arabia, a highly conservative country, saw the wisdom in halting its annual Umrah ( lesser pilgrimage ). ”

The group said available records showed that coronavirus which originated in Wuhan , China , had killed more than 4 , 000 people and infected over 116 , 000 people across the world .

NAN