Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a scathing criticism against President Bola Tinubu's government, accusing it of abandoning approximately 1,600 Nigerian students studying in foreign nations under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship scheme.
Allegations of Financial Neglect and Hardship
In a detailed statement posted on his official X account, Atiku outlined a pattern of neglect that has left scholars stranded. He alleged that the students did not receive their stipends for the period spanning September to December 2023. The situation worsened in 2024 when their monthly allowances were slashed by 56 per cent, from $500 to a mere $220, before payments ceased entirely.
No stipend payments were made throughout the entire year of 2025, according to the former presidential candidate. This has resulted in accumulated arrears exceeding $6,000 per student. Atiku described a dire situation where beneficiaries now face hunger, mounting rent debts, and profound emotional distress.
A Broken Diplomatic Promise
Atiku emphasized that the BEA scheme, initiated in 1993 and revitalized in 1999, is not a charitable handout but a diplomatic arrangement with partner countries including China, Russia, Morocco, and Hungary. He framed the government's handling of the programme as a severe breach of Nigeria's international obligations.
The programme was initially described as being suspended for five years but has effectively turned into an outright abandonment, leaving young Nigerians uncertain about their academic futures and well-being.
Tragic Consequences and Public Outcry
The former Vice President referenced a tragic incident, stating that one Nigerian student in Morocco died in November 2025, allegedly due to the hardships triggered by the unpaid stipends. This event transformed private suffering into public grief.
He also noted that frustrated parents and scholars have taken to the streets of Abuja, staging protests at the Ministries of Education and Finance. Their demands for the settlement of outstanding allowances have, however, remained unanswered.
Atiku particularly criticized a reported statement from the Minister of Education, who allegedly advised students who were "fed up" to return to Nigeria. Atiku labeled this remark as tantamount to "expulsion by neglect."
Government's Response and Stalemate
In reaction to the growing controversy, the Federal Government has pushed back against claims of abandonment. Education authorities, via their official social media channels, described the reports as misleading.
They clarified that every beneficiary admitted into the BEA programme before 2024 received payments up to the approved 2024 budget cycle. This assertion directly contradicts the allegations made by Atiku and the accounts of the affected students, creating a stalemate in the narrative.
Atiku has concluded by urging the Federal Government to immediately honor its commitments to the affected students, arguing that the continued suspension undermines Nigeria's credibility and jeopardizes the future of its young scholars.
