4,300 Corps Members, Just 2,000 Spaces: Group Raises Alarm Over Sagamu NYSC Camp

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) made the appeal on Thursday following reports of severe congestion at the NYSC orientation camp in Sagamu, Ogun State, where more than 4,300 prospective corps members were reportedly deployed to a facility designed to accommodate slightly above 2,000 people.

The situation allegedly forced many participants to sleep in overcrowded multipurpose halls due to insufficient accommodation.

The organisation noted that similar challenges had been reported in Lagos and other states, where large numbers of prospective corps members were sometimes redirected or temporarily accommodated under difficult conditions.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Isaac Ikpa, CESJET described the recurring situation as a threat to the dignity and welfare of young Nigerians participating in the national service programme.

The organisation stressed that corps members make significant contributions to the development of their host states, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors, where they help address shortages of teachers and medical personnel.

It noted that many corps members serve in hospitals and schools, especially in underserved communities, helping to sustain essential public services that would otherwise face greater pressure due to inadequate manpower.

CESJET argued that state governments and the Nigerian Governors Forum must take greater responsibility for providing decent accommodation and improving the general welfare of corps members.

According to the organisation, the challenges facing orientation camps require coordinated intervention and should not be left entirely to the NYSC management.

It therefore called on state governments to invest in additional hostels, upgrade existing infrastructure and provide better logistical support for orientation camps within their jurisdictions.

The centre also commended the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, for reforms aimed at improving the posting, welfare and security of corps members since assuming office.

However, it maintained that the efforts of the NYSC leadership must receive adequate support from state governors and local government chairmen, particularly because their communities benefit from the contributions of corps members.

The organisation further emphasised the need for adequate sleeping facilities, proper sanitation, improved security and other essential amenities to ensure that participants enjoy a safe and comfortable orientation experience.

It urged governors to regard investment in NYSC infrastructure as an investment in human capital development and the delivery of essential public services.

CESJET also appealed to the Nigerian Governors Forum to include corps members’ welfare and orientation camp accommodation on its agenda, with a view to developing a coordinated response to capacity challenges across the country.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the appeal comes amid renewed concerns over the conditions prospective corps members face during orientation exercises, with calls growing for state governments to provide facilities that reflect the importance of the national service programme.