The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students has called on the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria to intervene in the crisis facing Nigerian students in the UK, ranging from difficulties in processing tuition fees to accommodation issues.
Following the November 18 letter from the NANS UK chapter, Sarafa Ishola called on Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK to intervene in the admissions crisis facing Nigerian students in the country.
In a letter signed by the chapter president, Micheal Obakhavbaye, it was revealed that several students were at risk of deportation due to difficulties in processing their school fees.
Endorsing the UK chapter, NANS National Vice President for External Affairs, Akinteye Babatunde, frowned at the plight of Nigerian students.
in a statement made available PUNCH on Monday, Babatunde said, “All these hardships are against the survival of Nigerian students in the diaspora, and we believe that the Nigerian Ambassador to the UK and the Central Bank of Nigeria are complicit in these acts.
“The lapses in the accommodation issue have been attributed to the lack of attitude of the Nigerian banking system, which has been canceling students’ enrollment forms. This senselessness and incompetence has seriously harmed Nigerian students in the diaspora.
“The NANS VP External Affairs will not stop speaking on behalf of Nigerian students. To this end, we call on the Nigerian Ambassador to the UK, Amb. Sarafa Ishola, Hon. Abike Dabiri and the Federal Ministry of Education to take action on the hardships the students are facing.
NANS said Nigerian students deserved better and “must enjoy the dividend of governance”.
“In solidarity, we call on the CBN to make foreign exchange and currency transactions available to Nigerian students in the diaspora for their convenience and well-being. Nigerian students will take appropriate action if the necessary steps are not put in place at the earliest.”
“We also use this medium to urge the Director General of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to be more proactive in his duties. As we commend him in areas where he has done well, we are reiterating that more is expected of him to protect the interests of Nigerian students in the diaspora,” he added. Babatunde
