Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has ordered the removal of the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, following Tuesday’s students’ protest over disagreement on the continued use of the institution for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation programme.

The governor also approved the constitution of a three-man panel to investigate both the remote and immediate causes of the protest at the polytechnic.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu.

According to the statement, the committee is headed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Senior Ibrahim Sulyman.

Other members are the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Nafisat Buge, and the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare, Dr. Mrs. Mercy Olufunke Shittu.

The committee has been given two weeks to submit its report to the governor.

Its terms of reference include: to look into the remote and immediate causes of the protest and the handling of same; recommend ways to prevent similar occurrences in the future; and make further recommendations on the growth of the institution.

“The governor has meanwhile directed the Rector of the Polytechnic, Engineer Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, to immediately step aside from his role until further notice, while the most senior Deputy Rector acts in his place in the interim.
“The committee will engage with all relevant stakeholders on its assignment,” the statement said.

Governor Abdulrazaq had on Tuesday ordered the closure of the institution following the protest by some students, to ensure the safety of lives and property.

The Guardian reported that students of the polytechnic protested against the decision of the school authorities to allow continued use of the institution as a temporary NYSC orientation camp.

It was gathered that the management of the polytechnic granted students a three-week break, effective Monday, January 19, 2026, to facilitate the successful conduct of the NYSC orientation exercise and prevent any breakdown of law and order.

However, some students reportedly opposed the decision, arguing that they had just resumed from the Christmas and New Year break.

The situation degenerated into tension, which necessitated police intervention. The police were initially deployed to disperse the crowd at the polytechnic’s main gate.

However, some officers allegedly went beyond their mandate by throwing tear gas canisters into the polytechnic premises, including student hostels.

This action reportedly affected several students and staff members, including the polytechnic’s Chief Security Officer, who sustained injuries.

In a statement earlier issued by the Acting Registrar of the institution, AbdulHafis Amin, the government explained that the polytechnic was designated as a temporary NYSC orientation camp due to prevailing security challenges in the state.

“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, 19th January, 2026 to facilitate the successful conduct of the NYSC orientation camp.

“Regrettably, some students reacted negatively to this directive, on the ground that they just resumed from 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 Polytechnic’s Chief Security Officer who sustained injury.

“Consequently, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of the State, Mall. Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq has directed the closure of the Polytechnic to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the entire Polytechnic community.

“The management, therefore, call on all students, staff, and stakeholders to remain calm and cooperative as we continue to engage with the relevant authorities to resolve this matter amicably and swiftly,” the statement read.