The Ogun State Government has explained the circumstances surrounding the overcrowded accommodation at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Sagamu, following public criticism over a viral video showing prospective corps members sleeping in a congested hall.
The video, which circulated widely on social media on Monday, showed mattresses arranged closely together on the floor of a multipurpose hall, with little space for movement. The facility was reportedly converted into a temporary sleeping area to accommodate the large number of graduates arriving for the orientation exercise.
The footage triggered widespread criticism, with Nigerians questioning the NYSC's preparedness to provide adequate accommodation and other essential facilities for prospective corps members.
However, the state government, through the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, described the arrangement as a temporary measure necessitated by the unusually high turnout during registration.
In a statement issued on Monday, Akinmade disclosed that the camp, popularly known as the Five-Star Camp, received more than 4,300 prospective corps members for the current batch, compared with its usual capacity of slightly above 2,000.
He explained that the registration, screening, verification of credentials and allocation of hostel spaces were handled by NYSC officials, noting that the processes sometimes extended late into the night.
According to him, prospective corps members who completed their registration late were temporarily accommodated in the multipurpose hall, where mattresses were provided pending their allocation to the regular hostels.
Akinmade said the unexpected increase in the number of participants placed additional pressure on the available facilities.
He disclosed that the state government provided 500 mattresses to ease the situation, while the Akarigbo of Remo donated another 100, followed by an additional contribution of 200 mattresses.
The governor's aide maintained that although the NYSC was responsible for managing camp operations and accommodation, the state government had consistently supported the scheme through interventions aimed at improving corps members' welfare.
He recalled that Abiodun recently approved ₦50,000 each for 3,050 corps members who participated in the 2026 Batch C, Stream I orientation exercise to support their transportation.
Akinmade also noted that Ogun State had been recognised as the best-performing state in NYSC administration, describing the recognition as a reflection of the government's commitment to the scheme.
He urged the public to distinguish between the NYSC's operational responsibilities and the state government's supportive role, assuring that the administration would continue to assist the agency.
Meanwhile, the video has continued to generate reactions from individuals and organisations, including civic technology and accountability group MonITNG, which described the situation as a national disgrace requiring urgent attention.
In a post on its X account, the organisation alleged that some prospective corps members were asked to return home because of inadequate accommodation, while others struggled to secure sleeping spaces within the camp.
It questioned why the NYSC, despite knowing the expected number of participants, failed to make sufficient arrangements for accommodation, sanitation and other basic facilities.
The group called on the NYSC Director-General, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and other relevant authorities to investigate the incident and address concerns surrounding accommodation, healthcare, feeding, sanitation and security at orientation camps nationwide.
Economist Pat Utomi also criticised the situation, expressing concern over what he described as the normalisation of poor conditions in public institutions.
In a post on his X handle, Utomi questioned why young Nigerians participating in a national service programme should be subjected to such living conditions, insisting that they deserved dignity and better facilities.
As of the time of filing this report, the NYSC national spokesperson had yet to publicly respond to the controversy.
