Kwara Poly to Reopen March 2 After Closure Over NYSC Camp Dispute

The Kwara State Government has approved the reopening of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, with academic and administrative activities scheduled to resume on Monday, March 2, 2026, following weeks of closure.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Acting Registrar of the institution and signed by the Director of Information Division, Halimat Garba. The statement confirmed that the state government had granted approval for the institution to return to normal operations.

According to the management, all staff and students are expected to resume promptly on the stated date in compliance with the directive.

The management expressed appreciation to members of the polytechnic community for their patience and cooperation during the shutdown, noting that it looks forward to a smooth and successful completion of the first semester of the 2025/2026 academic session.

The institution was shut down on January 19 on the directive of the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, following protests by students over the use of the campus as a temporary orientation camp for members of the National Youth Service Corps.

According to an earlier statement by the Acting Registrar, the polytechnic had been designated by the state government as a temporary NYSC orientation camp due to prevailing security challenges in the state. While previous batches of corps members were accommodated during student breaks, the latest orientation exercise coincided with full academic activities.

To prevent a breakdown of law and order and ensure a smooth orientation programme, the management initially granted students a three-week break effective January 19, 2026.

However, some students reportedly opposed the decision, arguing that they had only recently returned from the Christmas and New Year holidays. The disagreement led to protests on campus, which later turned chaotic as security operatives intervened.

The management disclosed that several students and staff members were affected during the incident, including the institution’s Chief Security Officer, who reportedly sustained injuries. It also alleged that some security personnel exceeded their mandate by firing tear gas canisters into parts of the campus, including student hostels.

The Students’ Union Government condemned the use of force, maintaining that the protest was peaceful and motivated by concerns over safety, welfare, and academic disruption.

Similarly, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party criticised the handling of the situation and called for an independent investigation into the conduct of security operatives.