State Government Shuts Down Tertiary Institution.

 

The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the Kwara State College of Education in Oro due to growing security threats in the area.

The decision was contained in an internal memo dated January 20, 2026, from the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology. 

The document, signed by the commissioner, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, directed the school’s management to stop all academic activities at once, following an order from Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The ministry said the step was taken because of rising cases of violence and fear around the school and as part of a wider order to shut schools in the affected local government area. 

The memo said the closure was meant to protect students, staff and people living nearby.

The authorities were told to carry out the shutdown immediately and send a report to the ministry to confirm compliance. 

The school is to remain closed until the government completes a security review and gives fresh instructions.

This move comes as parts of Kwara South and Kwara North continue to face problems linked to bandit attacks, kidnappings and other crimes. 

In recent months, the state government has taken similar steps, including moving the NYSC orientation camp from Yikpata to Ilorin and closing schools in areas considered unsafe.

The decision has drawn criticism from the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party. 

In a statement issued by its publicity secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the party said the closure showed the government had failed to deal with insecurity and was giving in to criminals.

The party said the college plays an important role in the education and economy of Kwara South and warned that shutting it would increase hardship in the area. 

It also questioned why schools were being closed while markets and other public places were still open.

The PDP further accused the governor of weak leadership and urged community leaders and other groups to speak against the action. 

It said a government that cannot protect schools should not destroy the future of young people.

The closure of the College of Education, Oro, comes only days after the state government shut down the Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin following protests by students over the use of the campus as a temporary NYSC camp.