The Ogun State Government has addressed public concerns following a viral video showing prospective corps members sleeping in overcrowded conditions at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Sagamu.
The facility, known as the Five-Star Camp, was built to accommodate 2,000 individuals but received more than 4,300 prospective corps members for the current batch.
The footage showed graduates packed into a multipurpose hall with mattresses placed closely together on the floor, leaving little room for movement.
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A statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, dismissed claims of the public of neglect. The state government clarified that the viral video captured a temporary arrangement for prospective corps members whose registration extended into the night.
He added that the registration, credential verification, and hostel allocation are exclusively handled by NYSC officials and do not fall under the direct responsibility of the state government.
“The state received more than 4,300 prospective corps members for the current batch, compared with slightly over 2,000 in previous batches, increasing the pressure on available camp facilities”.
Akinmade also urged the public to distinguish between the operational responsibilities of the NYSC and the supportive role of the state government, noting that the administration recently approved a ₦50,000 transport allowance for 3,050 corps members in the previous batch.
Meanwhile, the state government, in order to ease the logistical strain, intervened by providing 500 mattresses, while the Akarigbo of Remo donated an additional 300 mattresses.
The incident has drawn criticism from prominent Nigerians and civic groups demanding improved welfare for the graduates. MonITNG, a civic accountability organisation, condemned the conditions, describing it as a national disgrace that demands intervention.
“How can a national programme responsible for receiving thousands of graduates fail to make adequate preparations for their arrival? Why were sufficient accommodation, sanitation and other essential facilities not provided?”, MonITNG.
Pat Utomi, a popular economist also condemned the situation, challenging the normalisation of deplorable conditions in public institutions.
“You could show this video to a foreigner, and they would probably mistake the place for a prison hall. Our young corps members should never be subjected to such deplorable conditions,” Utomi stated.
The NYSC national headquarters has yet to issue an official response regarding the accommodation shortfall at the time of this report.
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