By John Umeh
The Kwara State Government has ordered a temporary shutdown of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following unrest triggered by students’ opposition to the use of the institution as a temporary orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approved the closure after a protest erupted on campus on Tuesday, with students accusing authorities of disrupting academic activities and forcing them out of hostels to accommodate corps members.
The NYSC orientation camp was moved to the Polytechnic last year after security concerns forced the government to suspend activities at the permanent camp in Yikpata, Patigi Local Government Area.
Videos circulating online showed students barricading the Polytechnic’s main gate, chanting slogans against the state government and preventing newly posted corps members from entering the campus. Security operatives later intervened, firing tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters.
The intervention reportedly led to injuries, including to the institution’s Chief Security Officer, who was affected during the operation.
In response, the Polytechnic management announced a three-week suspension of academic activities, saying the move was necessary to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
A statement released by the school’s Public Relations Officer, Hajia Halimah Garba, and signed by Acting Registrar AbdulHafis Amin, explained that the institution had previously served as a temporary NYSC camp without incident when students were either on break or yet to fully resume.
“For the current orientation exercise, students are fully in session, which heightened tensions on campus,” the statement said.
“To ensure safety and allow for the smooth conduct of the NYSC orientation programme, management approved a three-week break for students, effective Monday, January 19, 2026,” it added.
The management acknowledged that the decision angered some students, particularly as it came shortly after the Christmas and New Year holidays, leading to protests that required police intervention.
The statement further noted that while police officers were initially deployed to maintain order at the main gate, some allegedly went beyond their brief by firing tear gas into the campus and student hostels, affecting both students and staff.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) criticised the handling of the protest, describing the police response as excessive and unacceptable.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the opposition party said peaceful protest is a constitutional right and accused the government of failing to engage students constructively before the situation escalated.
The PDP called for an investigation into the actions of the security operatives involved and urged the state government to find a more suitable arrangement for housing NYSC corps members without disrupting academic programmes.
The Polytechnic management, however, appealed for calm, assuring students and stakeholders that discussions with relevant authorities were ongoing to resolve the matter peacefully.
