Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has ordered the closure of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, for a period of three weeks following a student protest over the continued use of the institution as a temporary orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The directive followed tensions that erupted on campus after students protested the displacement caused by the hosting of prospective corps members. The state government had relocated the NYSC orientation camp from its permanent site in Yikpata, Patigi Local Government Area, to the Polytechnic last year, citing worsening security conditions in the area.
The protest, which gained traction on social media through viral videos, showed students blocking the main gate of the institution, chanting anti-government songs and demanding the immediate relocation of the NYSC camp from their campus. The demonstrators reportedly sought to prevent the arrival of new corps members for the orientation exercise.
Some students complained that they were being asked to vacate hostels and parts of the campus to make room for the corps members, despite the institution being in full academic session. This, they argued, disrupted their studies, especially as they had only recently resumed from the Christmas and New Year break.
As the protest escalated, operatives of the Kwara State Police Command were deployed to the scene. Eyewitness accounts and video footage indicated that tear gas canisters were fired to disperse the students. In the process, several students and staff were affected, while the Polytechnic’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) sustained injuries.
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In response to the situation, the Polytechnic management announced the temporary shutdown of the institution. A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, Hajia Halimah Garba, and signed by the Acting Registrar, AbdulHafis Amin, said the closure was directed by the state government “to ensure the safety of lives and property within the Polytechnic community.”
The statement explained that the institution had earlier been designated as a temporary NYSC orientation camp due to prevailing security challenges in the state. It noted that during previous orientation exercises, students were either on break or had not fully resumed, unlike the current session when academic activities were in full swing.
“To manage the situation and prevent any breakdown of law and order, management approved a three-week break for students, effective Monday, January 19, 2026, to allow for the smooth conduct of the NYSC orientation programme,” the statement said.
The management, however, regretted that some students reacted negatively to the decision, leading to heightened tension that necessitated police intervention. It further acknowledged that while the police were initially deployed to restore order at the main gate, some officers allegedly exceeded their mandate by firing tear gas into the campus, including student hostels.
In its concluding remarks, the Polytechnic management appealed to students, staff, and stakeholders to remain calm, assuring that efforts were ongoing to engage relevant authorities and resolve the situation amicably and swiftly.
