NYSC
Sagamu, Ogun State – The Ogun State Government has attributed overcrowding at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Sagamu to a sharp rise in the number of prospective corps members deployed to the state for the current batch.
The camp, popularly known as the Five-Star Camp, normally accommodates slightly more than 2,000 corps members per batch. For the ongoing exercise, it received more than 4,300 prospective corps members, placing heavy pressure on available facilities. Official figures released at the opening and swearing-in ceremony indicated that 4,152 prospective corps members had registered, with 3,698 deployed directly to Ogun State and 454 transferred from Lagos State.
The government’s explanation followed the circulation of a viral video showing prospective corps members sleeping in a crowded multipurpose hall, with mattresses laid closely together on the floor and some reportedly sharing spaces. The footage, which emerged on Monday, triggered public criticism and concerns over the welfare of the graduates.
In a statement issued on Monday, Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, described the scene as a temporary arrangement during the registration exercise that continued into the night.
“The video captured a temporary arrangement during the registration exercise, which continued into the night,” Akinmade said. He explained that prospective corps members must first undergo credential verification and screening by NYSC officials before being allocated hostels. Those whose registration extended late into the night were temporarily accommodated in the multipurpose hall, where mattresses were provided for them to rest while the process continued.
Akinmade stressed that registration, screening, credential verification and hostel allocation are handled exclusively by NYSC officials and do not fall under the direct responsibility of the state government.
He noted that although the NYSC manages camp operations and accommodation, the Ogun State Government consistently supports the scheme through interventions aimed at improving the welfare of corps members. As part of that support, the state government provided 500 mattresses for the current exercise. The Akarigbo of Remo donated 100 mattresses, followed by an additional 200, bringing the traditional ruler’s contribution to 300.
Akinmade also recalled that Governor Abiodun recently approved ₦50,000 transportation assistance for each of the 3,050 corps members in the previous 2026 Batch C, Stream I.
The Sagamu camp, located along Ikenne Road, has often been described by corps members and officials as one of the best-equipped NYSC orientation camps in the country because of its facilities and organisation. Some observers have suggested that the camp’s reputation has contributed to higher deployment numbers, as more graduates seek to serve in the state.
The government urged the public to understand the distinction between the operational responsibilities of the NYSC and the supportive role of the state government. It pledged to continue providing assistance to ensure a conducive environment for corps members serving in Ogun State.
NYSC officials in the state have not issued a detailed public response to the viral video. Questions directed to the scheme’s spokesperson were referred to the state coordinator and the Director-General.
The orientation exercise for the current batch is ongoing amid the heightened attention on accommodation arrangements at the camp.
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