VIDEO: Overcrowding at Ogun NYSC camp sparks outrage

A video showing overcrowding and poor sleeping conditions at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Sagamu, Ogun State, known as the ‘Five Star camp’ has sparked reactions on social media, with Nigerians expressing concern over the welfare of corps members.

The footage shared by corps members now circulating online shows graduates packed into a room, with mattresses placed closely together on the floor.

The multipurpose hall, ordinarily used for events was converted into a sleeping area to accommodate the increasing number of corps members, raising concerns about the adequacy of accommodation at the camp.

An X user, Ayohid01 (@ayohid01), who appeared to be among those experiencing the situation, expressed frustration, writing, “Bro, I can’t believe I am experiencing this right now at Ogun State camp Unna no try at all.”

Another user, Chude (@Chude_ND1), compared the conditions to those in displacement camps, writing, “Imagine NYSC Orientation Camp Shagamu, Ogun State in 2026. Even people in IDP camps in Gaza are not living like this. We have serious problem in this country.”

Similarly, CandyLove (@DazylingQueen) described the living conditions as unacceptable, writing, “The living conditions at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Shagamu, Ogun State, in 2026 are absolutely unacceptable. It’s heartbreaking to see Nigerian graduates subjected to conditions like this. We have a serious national problem, and the people responsible need to do better.”

A civic technology and accountability organisation, MonITNG (@monitng), also condemned the reported conditions, describing them as “a national disgrace that demands immediate intervention.”

In a lengthy post, the organisation alleged that some prospective corps members had been asked to return home because the camp lacked sufficient accommodation, while others were struggling to find sleeping spaces.

It questioned the preparedness of the NYSC authorities, asking, “How can a national programme responsible for receiving thousands of graduates fail to make adequate preparations for their arrival? Was the number of prospective corps members not known beforehand? Why were sufficient accommodation, sanitation and other essential facilities not provided?”

MonITNG also called on the NYSC Director-General, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and other relevant authorities to investigate the situation and improve accommodation, healthcare, sanitation, feeding and security at orientation camps across the country.

However, some X users argued that the overcrowding should not be blamed on the Ogun State Government, noting that the NYSC is a Federal Government scheme responsible for posting corps members to states.

An account identified as nba (@nba101i) alleged that some male corps members had been moved out of their hostel to accommodate female corps members.

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The user wrote, “This is currently live at NYSC camp in Sagamu. The boys were sent out from their hostel for no reason just to bring other females to the only boys hostel in this camp. This is unfair. You guys can do better honestly I’m currently pissed.”

Another user, Millenium.py (@the_millenium1), argued that the overcrowding was linked to the number of prospective corps members posted to Ogun State.

“How does this even concern Ogun state government? NYSC is a Federal Government thing, this is one of the best NYSC camps in the country and it’s suffering from over population because too many people wants to camp here,” the user wrote.

A user identified as Man of Letters (@Letter_to_Jack) also defended the state government, arguing that the responsibility for posting corps members rested with the NYSC.

The user claimed that the number of corps members deployed to Ogun increased from 2,578 during the 2025 Batch A Stream II exercise to 4,152 in the 2026 Batch C Stream II exercise.

The user further claimed that Governor Dapo Abiodun had ordered the provision of additional beds for the camp, adding that the beds were those seen on the floor of the hall in the circulating video.

Meanwhile, figures released at the opening and swearing-in ceremony for the 2026 Batch C Stream II orientation course showed that 4,152 prospective corps members had registered for the exercise.

The Ogun State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Frances Omolabake Adewuyi, said 3,698 were deployed directly to Ogun State, while 454 were transferred from Lagos State.

The Lagos contingent comprised 171 males and 283 females, while those deployed directly to Ogun included 1,460 males and 2,238 females.

The Ogun State Government had earlier approved the donation of 500 mattresses to the Sagamu camp amid an increase in the number of corps members deployed to the state.

The camp, located along Ikenne Road in Sagamu, 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.