According to a Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Student Loan Disbursement Daily Status Report uploaded by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) on its social media pages, the Fund has disbursed ₦73,113,908,545.00 in student loans and upkeep allowance to 366,247 Nigerian students since its launch on May 24, 2024.
The status report revealed that as of June 28, 2025, NELFUND had disbursed ₦38,262,648,545.00 in institutional fees to 206 Nigerian institutions and had paid ₦34,851,260,000.00 in upkeep allowance to 366,247 student beneficiaries.
However, comments on the July 8, 2025, report on NELFUND’s official Facebook page reveal a growing number of student concerns regarding a delay in upkeep allowances and refunds.
In response to the post, students from the Niger Delta University (2023/2024 academic session) and the University of Jos (2023/2024 academic session) shared concerns over delays in the refund of fees initially paid before receiving NELFUND support. According to them, despite submitting refund requests, many say they have yet to receive any disbursement or communication from their respective institutions. The students then appealed to NELFUND to engage with the institutions to fast-track the refund process and ease the financial pressure on affected beneficiaries and their families.
Meanwhile, some students also commented on the delay in the disbursement of their June upkeep, with a commenter, Abuba Kar, saying, “Scammers, everyday disbursed but no one is getting paid,” reflecting the frustration some students feel about the delay between official updates and actual disbursement.
This level of dissatisfaction highlights the high stakes involved and the significance of the NELFUND operation in the country’s education sector. Although delays are not uncommon in national programmes of this magnitude, the impact on students can be immediate and deeply personal, especially when upkeep allowances are expected to cover essential needs such as transportation, food, and academic materials.
To address these issues, it is important that NELFUND acknowledge and respond to these stakeholders’ concerns to strengthen and maintain trust in the system. Also, student-centred FAQ resources may help reduce the need for students to rely on social media comments for clarity.
Recall that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is part of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s efforts to revolutionise higher education accessibility in Nigeria by providing interest-free loans to eligible students, thereby breaking down financial barriers and empowering Nigerians to pursue their academic aspirations.