The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a serious alert concerning the alleged abandonment of Nigerian students on government-sponsored scholarships in the Kingdom of Morocco. This urgent call follows the circulation of a distressing video showing students in a dire situation.
Video Evidence Triggers NANS Outcry
In a statement released on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, and signed by its Vice President for External Affairs, Kenechukwu Aneke, NANS reacted to footage of students who accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of leaving them to face extreme hardship. The students reported issues of homelessness, lack of medical care, and being forced to beg for money to buy food.
The student body's demands are clear and immediate:
- Urgent repatriation and welfare support for all affected students in Morocco and other nations.
- A full probe into the alleged mismanagement of scholarship funds, with accountability for those responsible.
- The immediate release of all outstanding stipends, accommodation allowances, and other dues.
- A comprehensive review and reform of the overseas scholarship programme to prevent a recurrence.
A Tragedy and a Betrayal of Trust
The statement highlighted a particularly tragic outcome of this neglect. NANS reported that one of the students, Bashir Malami, has died under these difficult circumstances. The association described this loss as a stark illustration of the grave consequences of administrative failure.
“NANS views this as a blatant betrayal of trust by the relevant authorities, including the office responsible for overseas scholarships under the Federal Ministry of Education,” the statement read. It emphasised that it is unacceptable for budgeted funds to remain unutilised, exposing “young Nigerians — the future leaders of our nation — to hunger, destitution, and danger in a foreign land.”
NANS called on President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Federal Scholarship Board to act swiftly. It warned that continued neglect damages Nigeria's international reputation and undermines confidence in government-sponsored education initiatives.
Federal Government's Firm Rebuttal
In a swift response, the Federal Government categorically denied the allegations. A statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, labelled the claims as false, unfounded, and deliberately crafted to misinform the public.
Boriowo insisted that no Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned. She stated, “All beneficiaries duly enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme prior to 2024 have received payments up to the 2024 budget year.”
The government attributed any payment delays to fiscal constraints, noting that the matter is being addressed through engagements between the Education and Finance ministries. Minister Alausa clarified that no new bilateral scholarship awards were made in October 2025 or after, following a policy review that found Nigeria now has sufficient local capacity in its universities and colleges.
The Ministry condemned circulated documents suggesting otherwise as fake and part of a calculated attempt to discredit government policy.
