Federal Government don deny say dem abandon Nigerian scholarship students wey dey study for Kingdom of Morocco, describe the allegation as fake and misleading.
For press statement wey Ministry of Education release on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, government talk say reports flying around social media no correct and dem deliberately push am to confuse Nigerians.
This clarification come after social media outcry, including viral video from activist Martins Otse (VeryDarkMan), wey show some Nigerian students for Morocco complain of hunger and homelessness.
🚨 BREAKING: Nigerian students sent to Morocco on scholarship have been abandoned by the Nigerian government.
— Shadow (@ratelmania) January 6, 2026
Despite an approved budget, students are reportedly begging just to survive. One student, Bashir Malami, has died
@MarufTunjiAlausa, where is the accountability? -VDM pic.twitter.com/wXMtUJJapy
Reacting to the issue, Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, explain say all students wey enter Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) programme before 2024 don receive their allowances up to 2024 budget year.
According to the Ministry, no legitimate beneficiary under the approved BES programme don dey owed as at end of 2024.
FG also use the opportunity confirm major policy change:
👉🏾 Nigeria don stop new government-funded bilateral scholarships to foreign countries.
The Ministry explain say the decision follow 2025 policy review, wey show say Nigerian universities and polytechnics don get capacity to offer the same courses wey students dey travel abroad go study.
Going forward, FG say e go only support scholarships wey host countries fully fund, not the ones wey Nigeria go pay for overseas.
For students wey dey face serious difficulty abroad, government don also open exit option.
Under this arrangement, affected students fit:
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Stop their foreign programme
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Return to Nigeria voluntarily
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Continue their studies in any Nigerian tertiary institution of their choice
FG talk say e go pay for their return and reintegration.
The Ministry still assure Nigerians say government go stand by existing scholars until dem graduate, but warn the public make dem avoid fake scholarship offers and documents, especially those circulating for October 2025.
FG urge students and parents make dem rely only on official government channels for scholarship information.
