The National Youth Service Corps has faced widespread criticism after a viral video showed prospective corps members sleeping in overcrowded conditions at its orientation camp in Sagamu, Ogun State.

The footage, which circulated on Monday, November 9, 2026, showed graduates lying on mattresses arranged closely together on the floor of a multipurpose hall, with little space for movement.

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The hall, reportedly converted into a temporary sleeping area, was used to accommodate prospective corps members during the ongoing registration exercise.

The images triggered public outrage, with Nigerians questioning the NYSC’s preparedness to provide adequate accommodation and basic welfare facilities for participants.

The controversy intensified after the Ogun State Government attributed the situation to the unusually high number of prospective corps members deployed to the camp.

According to the state government, the Sagamu facility, popularly known as the Five-Star Camp, normally accommodates slightly over 2,000 corps members per batch but received more than 4,300 for the current exercise.

Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, said the video captured a temporary arrangement during registration, which continued into the night.

In a statement on Monday, Akinmade explained that registration, screening, credential verification and hostel allocation were handled by NYSC officials rather than the state government.

He said prospective corps members were required to complete verification and screening before receiving hostel allocations.

Those whose processes extended into the night were temporarily accommodated in the multipurpose hall, where mattresses were provided.

Akinmade said, “The state received more than 4,300 prospective corps members for the current batch, compared with slightly over 2,000 in previous batches, increasing the pressure on available camp facilities.”

He added that the state government had provided 500 mattresses to ease the situation, while the Akarigbo of Remo donated 100 mattresses, followed by an additional donation of 200.

The governor’s aide maintained that although the NYSC was responsible for camp operations and accommodation, the state government had continued to support the scheme through welfare interventions.

He also recalled that Abiodun had recently approved ₦50,000 each for 3,050 corps members in the previous 2026 Batch C, Stream I, to assist with transportation costs.

Akinmade further described Ogun State’s recognition as the country’s best in NYSC administration as evidence of the government’s commitment to supporting the scheme.

The controversy also drew attention to alleged accommodation problems at other orientation camps in the South-West.

A separate video purportedly showing female corps members at the permanent orientation camp in Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, sleeping in an unfinished building without toilets or bathrooms also circulated online.

The footage was said to have been recorded during the November 2026 Batch C, Stream II exercise.

However, the NYSC had yet to issue a substantive public response to the reported conditions in Ogun and Ondo states as of the time of filing the report.

The NYSC Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Tejumade Awoleye, declined to comment when contacted, saying only the state coordinator and the Director-General could address the matter.

The scheme’s national spokesperson had also not responded to calls and text messages seeking its position on the controversy.

Meanwhile, Nigerians continued to condemn the reported conditions, with some prospective corps members and other social media users sharing their experiences.

An X user, Ayohid01 (@ayohid01), who appeared to be among those affected, expressed frustration over the situation, 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, saying the situation reflected serious problems with the country’s public institutions.

Similarly, CandyLove (@DazylingQueen) described the reported living conditions as unacceptable, expressing concern that Nigerian graduates were being subjected to such treatment.

Civic technology and accountability organisation MonITNG (@monitng) also condemned the situation, describing it as “a national disgrace that demands immediate intervention.”

The organisation alleged that some prospective corps members had been asked to return home because of inadequate accommodation, while others struggled to secure sleeping spaces.

It questioned why the NYSC had not made sufficient preparations for the arrival of thousands of graduates and called on the scheme’s Director-General, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and other relevant authorities to investigate.

MonITNG also urged the authorities to improve accommodation, healthcare, sanitation, feeding and security at orientation camps across the country.

Economist Pat Utomi equally criticised the situation, questioning why deplorable conditions in public institutions had become normalised.

In a post on X, he said corps members deserved dignity, better facilities and an improved orientation experience.

Other social media users argued that the Ogun State Government should not bear the blame for the overcrowding, pointing out that the NYSC is a Federal Government scheme responsible for deploying corps members to states.

An X user, nba (@nba101i), also alleged that some male corps members had been moved out of their hostel to create space for female participants.