Government reacts as 4,300 NYSC members cram into Ogun camp

Ogun State has reacted to a viral online video showing prospective corps members sleeping in overcrowded conditions at the orientation camp in Sagamu, causing pandemonium online on Monday, and bringing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) into the spotlight over their welfare.

The video had shown graduates packed into a multipurpose hall, with mattresses placed closely together on the floor, leaving little room for movement. The hall, used for public events, was reportedly converted into a sleeping area to accommodate the increasing number of prospective corps members. The development sparked outrage on social media, with Nigerians condemning the living conditions and demanding improved welfare arrangements for corps members.

Nigerians also raised questions about the preparedness of the scheme to provide adequate accommodation for participants. Reacting to the controversy, the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, said in a statement on Monday that the video captured a temporary arrangement during the registration exercise, which continued into the night. The government said the camp, popularly known as the Five-Star Camp, which typically accommodates slightly over 2,000 corps members per batch, received more than 4,300 prospective corps members in the current batch.

He explained that the registration, screening, credential verification and hostel allocation of corps members were exclusively handled by NYSC officials and did not fall under the direct responsibility of the state government. Akinmade said prospective corps members had to undergo credential verification and screening by NYSC officials before being allocated hostels, adding that those whose registration extended into the night were temporarily accommodated in the multipurpose hall, where mattresses were provided.