Professor Pat Utomi has expressed displeasure at the conditions corps members were subjected to at the Ogun State camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
A viral video showed corps members sleeping on beds spread on the floor inside an overcrowded hall.
According to Utomi, a foreigner might mistake the place for a prison hall.
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He shared on X, "Why do we keep normalising abnormal conditions in Nigeria? This is the NYSC camp in Sagamu, Ogun State. You could show this video to a foreigner, and they would probably mistake the place for a prison hall. Our young corps members should never be subjected to such deplorable conditions. They deserve dignity, better facilities and a much better camping experience."
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has clarified the circumstances surrounding the viral video, stressing that the registration, screening, credential verification and hostel allocation of corps members are exclusively handled by NYSC officials and are not responsibilities of the state government.
Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said the video captured a temporary arrangement during the registration exercise, which continued into the night.
He explained that prospective corps members must first undergo credential verification and screening by NYSC officials before being allocated hostels. Those whose registration extended into the night were temporarily accommodated in the multipurpose hall, with mattresses provided for them to rest while the exercise continued.
Akinmade noted that Ogun 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 emphasised that while NYSC has responsibility for managing the registration process and camp accommodation, the Ogun State Government consistently supports the agency by providing an enabling environment and interventions to improve the welfare of corps members.
As part of this support, the state government provided 500 mattresses during the current exercise, while the Akarigbo of Remo donated 100, followed by an additional 200.
Akinmade also recalled Governor Abiodun’s recent approval of ₦50,000 each for the 3,050 corps members in the previous 2026 Batch C, Stream I, to assist with their transportation.
He noted that Ogun State had been adjudged the best in the country in NYSC administration, reflecting its sustained commitment to supporting the scheme.
He urged the public to understand the distinction between the operational responsibilities of NYSC and the supportive role of the state government, assuring that the Abiodun administration would continue to provide assistance towards making Ogun a conducive place for corps members to serve.
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