The Ogun State Government has reacted to public outrage over a viral video showing prospective corps members sleeping in overcrowded conditions at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Sagamu.
The video, which circulated online on Monday, showed graduates packed into a multipurpose hall, with mattresses placed closely together on the floor, leaving little room for movement. The hall was reportedly converted into a temporary sleeping area to accommodate the large number of arrivals.
The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, said the situation resulted from a temporary arrangement during the registration exercise, which continued into the night.
According to him, the camp, popularly known as the Five-Star Camp, usually accommodates slightly over 2,000 corps members per batch but received more than 4,300 prospective corps members for the current batch.
Akinmade explained that registration, screening, credential verification and hostel allocation were handled exclusively by NYSC officials. He said those whose registration extended into the night were temporarily accommodated in the multipurpose hall, where mattresses were provided.
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The government said it intervened by providing 500 mattresses, while the Akarigbo of Remo donated 100 mattresses, followed by an additional 200.
Akinmade added that although the NYSC is responsible for managing camp operations and accommodation, the Ogun State Government regularly supports the scheme to improve corps members’ welfare.
He also recalled that Governor Abiodun recently approved ₦50,000 each for 3,050 corps members in the previous 2026 Batch C, Stream I, to support their transportation.
However, the video has continued to attract criticism, with Nigerians questioning the preparedness of the NYSC to provide adequate accommodation and basic facilities for prospective corps members.
Civic technology and accountability organisation MonITNG described the reported conditions as a national disgrace and called for an immediate investigation. It also alleged that some prospective corps members had been asked to return home because of insufficient accommodation.
The organisation urged the NYSC, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and other relevant authorities to improve accommodation, sanitation, healthcare, feeding and security at orientation camps across the country.
Economist Pat Utomi also condemned the situation, questioning why Nigerians continued to normalise poor conditions in public institutions. He said corps members deserved dignity, better facilities and a more comfortable orientation experience.
The NYSC had yet to issue an official response to the controversy as of the time of filing this report.
