The Nigerian government has dismissed allegations of abandoning students studying in Morocco under a federal scholarship scheme, attributing the delays in payments to “temporary fiscal challenges.” This response comes despite several interviews with Nigerian students in Morocco, who accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of neglecting their financial, housing, and medical needs for years.

According to the students, many scholars have been left without any support, with some even expelled from their academic institutions due to the lack of funds. Others have reportedly faced life-threatening medical emergencies. One student, a final-year medical student, described a dire situation where a fellow student, identified as Umar, needed urgent surgery for appendicitis but was unable to receive the medical care due to the lack of funds.

The Federal Ministry of Education, however, has rejected these claims. In a statement issued on Wednesday by Boriowo Folasade, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, the Ministry of Education clarified that no Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship had been abandoned. The statement quoted the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, who explained that all students under the Bilateral Education Scholarship Programme (BESP) received funding through the 2024 budget year, in line with the government’s obligations.

Alausa acknowledged that while some payments may have been delayed, this was due to fiscal constraints, which are being addressed through ongoing discussions between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance. The ministry also refuted claims that new bilateral scholarships were awarded in 2025, labeling circulating documents as “fake” and an attempt to mislead the public.

The statement further outlined that the Nigerian government has reviewed its scholarship policies and decided to discontinue government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad. This shift follows a policy assessment that concluded that Nigeria now has sufficient capacity in its own educational institutions to offer the programs previously funded overseas. Moving forward, only fully funded scholarships by foreign governments will be supported, with the host countries bearing all the financial responsibilities.

Despite this shift, the Ministry assured that the government remains committed to the well-being of students already enrolled in the scheme and will continue to support them until the completion of their studies. The Ministry also noted that students who wish to discontinue their studies abroad can apply to be reintegrated into suitable Nigerian universities, with the government covering their return travel costs.

Alausa emphasized that these reforms are necessary to reduce financial burdens on public resources, citing that past practices of sponsoring overseas education for courses already well-established in Nigeria were unsustainable. The government reiterated its commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students and rejected any claims of misinformation, blackmail, or attempts to undermine policies aimed at strengthening national educational capacity.