Nigerians have called for urgent reforms or the outright scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme after viral videos showed prospective corps members sleeping in overcrowded conditions at the orientation camp in Sagamu, Ogun State.
Key Highlights
- Viral videos show hundreds of prospective corps members sleeping on closely packed mattresses in a multipurpose hall at the Sagamu orientation camp.
- More than 4,300 prospective corps members were reportedly deployed to the camp for the 2026 Batch C, Stream II exercise.
- The camp normally accommodates slightly above 2,000 participants.
- Nigerians on X compared the conditions to prisons and refugee camps, with many calling for NYSC to be reformed or scrapped.
- The Ogun State government says the hall was a temporary arrangement for those whose registration ran into the night.
The videos, which circulated on social media, showed hundreds of graduates lying on mattresses arranged closely together on the floor of a multipurpose hall, triggering criticism of the scheme’s management and concerns about the welfare of participants.
Reacting to the development, several Nigerians described the accommodation arrangements as unacceptable, while others questioned the continued relevance of the national service programme after more than five decades of operation.
Nigerians React on X
On X, @OurFaveOnlineDoc criticised the conditions at the camp, comparing them with the living conditions in countries experiencing conflict.
The user wrote: “This is the NYSC Orientation Camp Shagamu, Ogun State in 2026. Even people in war torn countries like Sudan and Syria will be shocked to find out this is life for a young nigerian. What kind of life is this? What kind of country is this?”
Another user, @boye4christ20, also condemned the situation, describing the camp’s accommodation arrangements as worse than those in Nigerian prisons.
The user wrote: “NYSC orientation camp, Ogun state is even worst than prisons in Nigeria. They should scrap NYSC as it is a scam. Both gender are sleeping in the same hall.”
Similarly, Duke of Africa (@Allezamani) described the treatment of the graduates as unacceptable, writing: “These are university graduates being treated worse than animals. Even asylum seekers on refugee camps aren’t treated this way. Nigeria government are very heartless.”
Another user, @heisa lex, raised concerns about alleged tribal discrimination at the camp, writing: “what is this level of tribalism going on in this nysc camp ? omo we really have a long way to go as a nation”.
Renewed Calls for NYSC Reform
The controversy also renewed calls for a comprehensive review of the NYSC scheme.
Peter Obi Grassroots Commentary argued that the programme needs urgent reform or should be scrapped altogether, insisting that the government must justify the public funds spent on its operation.
The commentary stated: “The reform of the NYSC scheme, or its outright scrapping, is long overdue. After decades of operation, Nigerians deserve an honest assessment of its relevance, impact, and value to national development.”
It added that a programme funded with taxpayers’ money must demonstrate measurable benefits and deliver meaningful contributions to national development.
Also reacting, Morris Monye (@Morris Monye) called for reforms, writing: “I’ve always said that NYSC needs some form of reform. This could have been avoided.”
@kamaldeen141 also expressed disappointment over the accommodation arrangements, writing: “Imagine this is the NYSC Orientation Camp in Sagamu, Ogun State, in 2026. Just look at the living conditions!
“Them just pack them together like sardine. Even some internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in conflict zones may have better facilities than this.”
The outrage followed reports that more than 4,300 prospective corps members were deployed to the Sagamu orientation camp for the 2026 Batch C, Stream II exercise, despite the facility having a normal accommodation capacity of slightly above 2,000 participants.
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Ogun Government Explains
The footage showed prospective corps members sleeping in a multipurpose hall after registration delays reportedly extended into the night.
In its reaction, the Ogun State government attributed the situation to the sharp increase in the number of prospective corps members deployed to the state.
Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, explained that the viral video captured a temporary arrangement made during registration.
Akinmade said prospective corps members were required to undergo credential verification and screening before being allocated hostel accommodation, in line with the orientation procedures of the National Youth Service Corps.
He explained that those whose registration was not completed at night were temporarily accommodated in the multipurpose hall, where mattresses were provided for them to rest while the process continued.
For more updates on NYSC and other national stories, follow us on X.
