The Ogun State Government has attributed the overcrowding at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Sagamu to a sharp increase in the number of prospective corps members deployed to the state.
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The explanation followed public criticism triggered by a viral video showing prospective corps members sleeping in an overcrowded multipurpose hall at the camp, popularly known as the Five-Star Camp.
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The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, addressed the incident in a statement on Monday.
He said the camp, which usually accommodates slightly more than 2,000 corps members per batch, received over 4,300 prospective corps members for the current exercise.
Akinmade explained that the overcrowding occurred as prospective corps members underwent registration, credential verification and screening before being assigned hostel accommodation.
He said those whose registration continued late into the night were temporarily housed in the multipurpose hall, where mattresses had been provided.
“The video captured a temporary arrangement during the registration exercise, which continued into the night,” he said.
The governor’s aide clarified that registration, screening, credential verification and hostel allocation were handled by NYSC officials and were not directly managed by the state government.
However, he said the Ogun State Government had continued to support the scheme through interventions aimed at improving corps members’ welfare.
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According to him, the state government provided 500 mattresses for the current exercise, while the Akarigbo of Remo donated another 300.
He also recalled that Abiodun recently approved a payment of N50,000 each for 3,050 corps members in the 2026 Batch C Stream I to assist with their transportation expenses.
Akinmade maintained that the state government would continue to provide support to ensure a conducive environment for corps members serving in Ogun.
The controversy followed the circulation of a video showing prospective corps members packed into a room, with mattresses arranged closely together on the floor. Some were also seen sharing mattresses.
An X user, identified as Ayohid01, who appeared to be among those affected, expressed dissatisfaction with the situation.
“Bro, I can’t believe I am experiencing this right now at Ogun State camp Unna no try at all,” the user wrote.
Meanwhile, the NYSC Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Mrs Tejumade Awoleye, declined to comment when contacted.
She said the state coordinator and the Director-General of the scheme were better placed to address the incident.
“I can’t speak on the incident, it is the state coordinator and the Director General of the NYSC that can address the issue,” she said.
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