Students from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) held a peaceful protest on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, disrupting traffic for several hours. The protest was aimed at drawing attention to what they described as irregularities and delays in the disbursement of federal student loans.
The protest, according to a report by The Guardian Nigeria, centered on allegations of mismanagement within the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Students claimed that promised financial support had not reached many of them, despite government assurances.
The demonstrators also voiced concerns over increasing tuition fees and poor learning facilities in higher institutions. They called for a review of the education funding process and demanded greater transparency from the agencies involved.
Security forces, led by Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, intervened to restore order. After speaking with the student leaders, the police commissioner appealed for calm and encouraged the students to seek dialogue instead of disruption.
“We understand your concerns, and I assure you they will be communicated to the relevant authorities,” CP Ogunlowo told the protesting students.
Following the dialogue, the students agreed to vacate the expressway and proceeded to the State Command Headquarters at Eleweran for further engagement. The meeting aimed to establish a clearer path for student advocacy through official communication channels.
While the road has since been reopened to traffic, students have indicated they will continue pushing for accountability in the loan disbursement process. The outcome of their meeting with state authorities is expected to influence their next steps.
Article updated 4 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
