Ogun Govt Explains Overcrowding At NYSC Camp

The Ogun State Government has blamed the overcrowding at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Sagamu on the high number of graduates posted to the state for the current service year.

The government explained that more than 4,300 prospective corps members arrived for the latest orientation exercise, placing heavy pressure on the camp’s accommodation facilities, which were originally designed to accommodate slightly above 2,000 people per batch.

The explanation followed the circulation of a video showing several prospective corps members sleeping in a crowded multipurpose hall at the Sagamu orientation camp, popularly called the Five-Star Camp.

The video sparked public reactions, with many Nigerians questioning the conditions provided for the graduates and expressing concerns about their safety and welfare.

The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, gave the government’s position in a statement on Monday.

Akinmade explained that the graduates were temporarily accommodated in the multipurpose hall because their registration and screening processes continued late into the night.

He said NYSC officials were responsible for registration, document verification, screening and the allocation of hostel spaces.

According to him, prospective corps members must complete the necessary verification procedures before they can be assigned accommodation. Those who were unable to finish the process before nightfall were therefore given mattresses in the multipurpose hall to rest while registration continued.

The governor’s aide added that the number of graduates posted to Ogun State had increased by more than double compared with previous batches, creating pressure on the available facilities.

He disclosed that the state government had provided 500 mattresses for the current orientation exercise to improve the accommodation situation.

He also revealed that the Akarigbo of Remo supported the exercise with an initial donation of 100 mattresses and later provided another 200.

Akinmade further recalled that Governor Abiodun had recently approved a payment of ₦50,000 each for 3,050 corps members under the 2026 Batch C, Stream I, to help them cover transportation costs.

He maintained that the Ogun State Government had continued to support the NYSC scheme and had received recognition as the best state in the country in NYSC administration.

The government also urged members of the public to understand the difference between the responsibilities of NYSC officials and the support provided by the state, assuring that the administration would continue to work towards improving the welfare of corps members.

Despite the explanation, the video continued to attract criticism on social media, with some prospective corps members expressing dissatisfaction with the situation.

An X user, Ayohid01, who appeared to be among those affected, shared his frustration over the accommodation arrangement, describing his experience at the camp as disappointing.

The development has also raised concerns about whether the facilities at the orientation camp are sufficient to accommodate the growing number of graduates being deployed to Ogun State.

Meanwhile, a human rights activist and Chairman of a civil society organisation in Ogun State, Solomon Bankole, has called on the affected graduates to consider taking legal action against the Federal Government and the NYSC.

Bankole argued that the accommodation arrangement raised serious concerns about the dignity, safety and welfare of the prospective corps members.

He maintained that since participation in the NYSC scheme is compulsory for eligible Nigerian graduates, the authorities have a responsibility to provide suitable accommodation and protect their fundamental rights throughout the service programme.

The activist explained that the affected graduates could approach a Federal High Court to seek legal redress if they believed their rights had been violated.

He further argued that the NYSC discharge certificate remains an important requirement for many graduates seeking employment or aspiring to occupy certain public positions, making it difficult for eligible graduates to avoid the scheme.

Bankole described the situation at the Sagamu camp as unacceptable, insisting that compulsory national service should not expose graduates to conditions that undermine their dignity as citizens.

He also blamed the problem on wider issues of poor governance and inadequate attention to public institutions, arguing that the responsibility should not be placed on the NYSC alone.

According to him, the Federal Government provides an approved budget for the operation of the scheme across the country, making it necessary for authorities to account for how available resources are used to provide basic facilities for participants.

The activist also warned that keeping a large number of people in a limited space could create health risks, particularly through the possible spread of communicable diseases.

He raised additional concerns about the reported sleeping arrangements involving male and female prospective corps members in the same hall, saying that proper privacy and safety measures should have been put in place.

Bankole called for a thorough investigation into the incident and urged the NYSC management to identify officials responsible for the situation and take appropriate disciplinary action where necessary.

He maintained that those in charge of the camp should be made to explain why the facilities were unable to provide adequate accommodation for the number of graduates posted to the state.

The activist warned that failure to hold responsible officials accountable could encourage similar incidents in other orientation camps across the country.