The Ogun State Government has explained the overcrowding at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Sagamu after a viral video showed prospective corps members sleeping in a crowded multipurpose hall.
The video, which sparked widespread outrage on social media on Monday, showed graduates sleeping on mattresses placed closely together on the floor, leaving little room for movement.
The development raised concerns about the welfare of prospective corps members and the preparedness of the NYSC to accommodate participants during the orientation exercise.
Reacting to the controversy, the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, said the video captured a temporary arrangement during registration, which extended into the night.
In a statement, Akinmade explained that the camp, popularly known as the Five-Star Camp, received more than 4,300 prospective corps members for the current batch, compared with slightly over 2,000 in previous batches.
He said the unexpected increase in the number of participants put pressure on the available accommodation facilities.
According to him, the registration, screening, credential verification and hostel allocation processes are handled exclusively by NYSC officials and do not fall directly under the state government’s responsibility.
He explained that prospective corps members must complete the necessary verification and screening before receiving hostel allocations.
Those whose registration extended into the night were temporarily accommodated in the multipurpose hall, where mattresses were provided.
Akinmade said the state government intervened by providing 500 mattresses, while the Akarigbo of Remo donated 100 mattresses, followed by an additional 200.
He also recalled that Governor Abiodun recently approved ₦50,000 each for 3,050 corps members of the 2026 Batch C, Stream I, to support their transportation.
The governor’s aide maintained that Ogun State remained committed to supporting the NYSC and improving corps members’ welfare, despite the scheme’s responsibility for managing camp operations.
Meanwhile, civic technology and accountability organisation MonITNG condemned the reported conditions, describing them as “a national disgrace that demands immediate intervention”.
In a post on X, the organisation alleged that some prospective corps members were asked to return home because of inadequate accommodation, while others struggled to secure sleeping spaces.
It questioned the NYSC’s preparedness to receive thousands of graduates and demanded an investigation into the accommodation arrangements.
The organisation also called on the NYSC Director-General, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and other relevant authorities to improve accommodation, healthcare, sanitation, feeding and security at orientation camps nationwide.
Economist Pat Utomi also criticised the situation, questioning why Nigerians continued to accept poor conditions in public institutions.
In a post on his X handle, he wrote: “Why do we keep normalising abnormal conditions in Nigeria?”
He described the camp conditions as deplorable, adding that corps members deserved dignity, better facilities and an improved orientation experience.
The NYSC national spokesperson had yet to respond to the controversy as of the time of filing this report.
