100 Nigerian students to be deported from UK universities over non-payment as government stops scholarship

macfranc007 October 16, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Omotayo Yusuf

- About 100 Nigerian students face possibility of deportation from the UK

- This is due to the cancellation of their scholarship

- The government however said it has approved additional apyments

About 100 Nigerian students face deportation from UK universities to Nigeria following the suspension of payment of their scholarship by the government.

According to UK Telegraph, the cancellation of their bursary scheme by a regional agency in Nigeria might put an end to their education and they may be departed before Christmas.

Some of the students reportedly owe up to £20,000 as they were not informed before their scholarship were cancelled.

Some of the students who have completed their academic calendar have been told that they would not receive their certificates.

Ogbonnaya Ogbonna who is a medical student at Leeds University is one of the students facing deportation due to the cancellation of his scholarship.

The Nigerian high commission confirmed that 152 students face the possibility of deportation due to cash crunch.

Universities including Leeds, Sussex and Essex have allegedly told the students that they cannot graduate and their visas would not be renewed.

Robert Halfon, a British lawmaker, called on universities to try and help students rather than making things hard for them.

He said: “Whilst some universities have done the right thing, it appears outrageous and unacceptable from those who won’t help these students in complete distress, and are holding a loan over the heads like a ransom.

“Universities should be using their bursaries and other funds to support these students, and I hope that the government will be able to step in to find a solution.”

He said universities should be made to take out compulsory insurance agreements when accepting international students especially from politically unstable countries

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He said: “If universities are going to take money from governments overseas, known to be in difficult political circumstances, we should look at introducing compulsory insurance agreements to ensure this does not happen again.”

The Nigerian high commission in its reaction said the government has approved additional funding for 87 students.

Meanwhile, the minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said on Tuesday, August 1, that three of four new universities to be built by the federal government were for the Army, Navy and Maritime.

According to Adamu, the projects were kicking off soon.

Daily Trust reported that the announcement was made at the Progressive Governors Forum on Policy Synergy held in Birnin Kebbi.

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