Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has ordered the immediate closure of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following a breakdown of law and order linked to the temporary relocation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp to the institution.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday in Ilorin by the Acting Registrar of the Polytechnic, Abdulhafiz Amin. According to the statement, the governor approved the closure to protect lives and property within the Polytechnic community.
The state government had earlier designated Kwara State Polytechnic as a temporary NYSC orientation camp. The move followed security concerns at the Yikpata permanent camp.
Explaining the situation, the management of the institution stated: “During the first camp exercise, students were on break, and during the second, students had not fully resumed. However, for the current exercise, students are fully in session.
“To manage the situation and prevent any breach of law and order, the management granted students a three-week break effective Monday, January 19, 2026, to facilitate the successful conduct of the NYSC orientation camp.
“Regrettably, some students reacted negatively to this directive on the grounds that they had just resumed from the Christmas/New Year break. This resulted in tension that necessitated police intervention.
“The police were initially tasked with dispersing the crowd at the Polytechnic’s main gate. Unfortunately, some officers went beyond their mandate by throwing tear gas canisters into the Polytechnic premises, including student hostels.
“This action adversely affected several students and staff, including the Polytechnic’s Chief Security Officer, who sustained injuries.
“Consequently, the Executive Governor of the State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has directed the closure of the Polytechnic to ensure the safety of lives and property of the entire Polytechnic community,” the statement added.
The Polytechnic management appealed to students, staff, and other stakeholders to remain calm and cooperative. It also assured that discussions with relevant authorities are ongoing to resolve the situation peacefully and without delay.
