Ogun Government Reacts To Viral Video Of Overcrowding At State NYSC Camp

The Ogun State Government has responded to a viral video showing severe overcrowding at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Sagamu, attributing the situation to an unprecedented surge in the number of prospective corps members posted to the state.

The footage, which circulated widely on Monday, captured prospective corps members sleeping closely together on mattresses laid out in a multipurpose hall, sparking public concern over camp welfare.

Reacting through a statement issued by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the state clarified that the registration, credential verification, and hostel allocations are exclusively handled by NYSC officials rather than the state government.

According to the government, the camp typically handles slightly over 2,000 corps members per batch. However, the current intake received more than 4,300 prospective members, severely straining available facility capacities.

“The video captured a temporary arrangement during the registration exercise, which continued into the night,” Akinmade explained, noting that those whose verification extended past normal hours were temporarily accommodated with provided mattresses in the hall while processing continued.

Akinmade emphasized that while camp operations fall under federal NYSC management, the state government routinely provides robust support to safeguard corps members’ welfare:

• Mattress Provision: The state government supplied 500 mattresses for the current exercise, supplemented by an initial 100 and a subsequent 200 donated by the Akarigbo of Remo.
• Financial Aid: Governor Dapo Abiodun recently approved ₦50,000 each for 3,050 corps members from the previous 2026 Batch C Stream I to assist with transportation logistics.
• Administrative Standing: Ogun State has frequently been recognized as a top-performing state in national NYSC administration.

The state government urged the public to distinguish between operational responsibilities and supportive roles, assuring citizens that the administration remains committed to providing a conducive environment for serving graduates.