General
Reps Probe Alleged Student Loan Mismanagement
By Adedapo Adesanya
The House of Representatives has launched an official investigation into accusations of fund misappropriation, regulatory violations, and unethical practices linked to the student loan scheme established by the Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Lawmakers cautioned that such issues could jeopardize one of Nigeria’s most crucial educational support initiatives.
During the opening session of the public hearing, Speaker of the House, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, affirmed the legislature’s resolve to prevent the student loan initiative from being undermined by administrative inefficiencies, weak oversight, or intentional misconduct.
Mr Abbas stated that public trust and the credibility of the programme are at risk, stressing that lawmakers would not remain passive while serious allegations were ignored.
The investigative hearing, organized jointly by the House Committees on Public Accounts and Students Loans, aims to examine allegations of delayed fund releases, lack of openness, and potential collusion among stakeholders involved in administering the loan scheme.
Mr Abbas called the investigation both a constitutional duty and an ethical obligation to safeguard the interests of young Nigerians who rely on the scheme to pursue higher education.
Referring to Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Mr Abbas reminded the audience that the National Assembly holds the legal authority to scrutinize the performance of any entity responsible for implementing its legislation.
He reiterated the investigation was not designed to target individuals unfairly, but rather to expose systemic failures, improve procedural efficiency, and reinforce transparency in the use of public resources.
“Our intention is not to witch-hunt but to guarantee that every naira meant for Nigerian students is spent responsibly and in an open manner.”
He praised the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), created under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act of 2024, as a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mr Abbas noted that so far, over 600,000 applications had been processed and more than N73 billion disbursed to students nationwide.
Despite these achievements, he warned that rising claims of fund mismanagement could derail what should be a groundbreaking educational support effort.
“This hearing is designed to verify the allegations, pinpoint procedural or institutional shortcomings, and propose corrective actions, including disciplinary measures if warranted.”
The Committee Chairman, Mr Ifeoluwa Ehindero acknowledged the student loan programme had revived hope for many Nigerian households and was already delivering measurable impact.
According to Mr Ehindero, by June 30, 2025, a total of N73.1 billion had been distributed to 366,247 students in federal and state tertiary institutions.
“Out of this sum, N38.26 billion was used for tuition, while N34.85 billion went toward upkeep support, benefitting students in more than 206 institutions.”
He commended Speaker Abbas for his leadership and dedication to openness, which had empowered the joint committee to establish a neutral platform focused on accountability and reform.
“Our mission is not punitive,” Mr Ehindero said, “We aim to enhance transparency, strengthen the disbursement framework, and ensure the scheme benefits all parties involved.”
In his remarks, Akintunde Sawyer, the Managing Director of NELFUND, reported the Fund had registered over 650,000 applicants and currently processes around 2,000 applications per day.
He clarified that every application is subjected to a verification process, and funds are disbursed directly to the applicants’ institutions upon approval.
The House Committees however resolved to hold additional hearings with regulatory bodies, key institutions, and students affected by the process, with the ultimate goal of rebuilding public trust in the student loan initiative.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its development partnership with Kano and Jigawa States, as part of its long-term commitment to development and reform in northern Nigeria.
The Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission Abuja, Ms Cynthia Rowe, recently completed high-level engagements with governors of both states as well as senior government officials and civil society leaders.
The discussions underscored the UK’s modern approach to development as a genuine partnership with Nigeria, which prioritises state-led ownership and sustainable development that delivers lasting impact through strengthening systems and partnerships grounded in investment, trade, climate financing, technical expertise and joint accountability.
According to a statement, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, via the British High Commission, said Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most significant development partners, adding that the engagements underlined the strength and ambition of the bilateral relationship reaffirmed during the recent UK-Nigeria State Visit.
In Kano, Ms Rowe met with Deputy Governor Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo and senior officials, including the newly confirmed Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the State Government. The visit recognised Kano’s progress on climate finance, health system reform and private sector investment supported through UK technical assistance.
In Jigawa, she met with Governor Umar Namadi and heads of key ministries, departments and agencies. The meeting celebrated more than 25 years of UK-Jigawa partnership, one of the most longstanding bilateral development relationships at the subnational level in Nigeria. Discussions covered the state’s continued progress on health systems reform, agriculture, and governance and the path forward under UK technical assistance.
Since 2022, PLANE has supported Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa to strengthen state-led education delivery systems, working through Ministries of Education, SUBEB and key agencies. Its RANA+ foundational learning packages have reached 1.4 million pupils across the three states, alongside wider system strengthening.
Speaking on this, Ms Rowe said, “For more than 25 years, we have worked side by side with state governments, including Jigawa and Kano states, their communities, and civil society to build stronger health systems, improve learning outcomes for millions of children, support farmers to grow their businesses, and help states attract the investment they need to thrive.
These visits have reinforced our confidence in what this partnership can achieve. We are working together to deliver lasting change, and deepening a relationship built on genuine mutual respect and shared ambition for Nigeria’s growth and development.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on data sharing to enhance economic productivity.
This was done at a meeting at CBN Head Office in Abuja, where the weather body led by its Director General, Mr Charles Anosike, on Wednesday, highlighted the importance of integrating weather and climate data into economic research, especially in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and transportation.
He noted that extreme weather events can reduce agricultural productivity and threaten food security.
He added that the collaboration aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises food security through major agricultural investment, including the cultivation of 10 million hectares of land and the distribution of mechanised equipment.
Mr Anosike cited a 2026 World Bank report that showed that extreme weather driven by climate change is significantly affecting global food security, with more than 87 million people facing hunger in East and Southern Africa and 52 million in West and Central Africa.
He also referenced the latest Berkeley Earth Report, which projects that 2026 is likely to be the fourth warmest year on record, a trend that continues to shape agricultural and energy market projections.
In his remarks, Mr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN, said the signing of the MoU marked an important step in strengthening the partnership between two key national institutions whose mandates intersect in data, research, and policy support.
He emphasised that, in an increasingly complex and dynamic economic environment, timely and reliable data remain essential for effective policy decisions.
According to him, the Economic Policy Directorate relies heavily on timely and credible statistical information from NiMet, saying that such data are critical for inflation monitoring, agricultural sector assessment, and broader economic policy advisory functions.
He described the initiative as both timely and important, adding that strong institutional partnerships are essential for strengthening evidence-based policymaking and improving the robustness of national data systems.
At the close of the event, Mr Anosike and Mr Sani Abdullahi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Tunji Disu, has ordered an immediate nationwide ban prohibiting Point-of-Sale (POS) operators from running their businesses within a 200-metre radius of any police station, divisional headquarters, or police formation across Nigeria.
This directive, released via an internal police wireless message, addresses critical systemic challenges regarding extortion and corrupt financial practices within law enforcement facilities.
The order is to be strictly enforced nationwide, with senior officers overseeing various formations to be held accountable for any breach of the directive.
The Nigeria Police Force stated that the measure is intended to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the policing system.
The decision comes after an alarming proliferation of POS businesses near police facilities, with investigations and public complaints revealing that some operators were actively complicit in facilitating extortion, bribery, and illegal cash transfers forced upon civilians or suspects during police encounters.
Under the directive, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), State Commissioners of Police (CPs), and heads of formations will be held vicariously liable for any breach within their jurisdictions.
The IGP’s order states: “Any officer or POS merchant found flouting the 200-metre operational boundary or colluding in illicit transactions will face immediate disciplinary and criminal actions under extant laws.
“If you are a POS agent or looking into regulatory compliance for financial services in Nigeria, let me know. I can provide details on current Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) radius registration guidelines or share methods to report officer misconduct directly to the Force Headquarters.”
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