The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has dismissed as fake a viral statement circulating on social media claiming that delays in the payment of student upkeep allowances were caused by the exhaustion of funds allocated to the programme by the Federal Government.
The agency, in a public notice issued on its official social media platforms, urged students and members of the public to disregard the statement titled “NELFUND Clarifies Student Upkeep Payment,” insisting that it did not originate from the organisation.
The purported statement, which has been widely shared online, alleged that NELFUND had exhausted funds earmarked for student upkeep payments and was awaiting the release of additional funding from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation before resuming disbursements.
However, NELFUND categorically denied issuing the notice, describing it as false and misleading.
“The statement circulating online titled ‘NELFUND Clarifies Student Upkeep Payment’ is FAKE and was not issued by NELFUND. Please disregard it and rely only on NELFUND’s official channels for verified updates,” the agency said.
To further emphasize its position, NELFUND released a copy of the viral notice with a prominent “FAKE” stamp across the document, warning beneficiaries and stakeholders against relying on unverified information.
The agency advised students participating in the Federal Government’s student loan scheme to obtain updates only through its official communication channels to avoid being misled by misinformation circulating on social media.
The clarification comes amid growing public interest in the student loan programme, which was introduced to expand access to higher education by providing financial support to eligible Nigerian students.
NELFUND reiterated its commitment to transparency and timely communication, assuring beneficiaries that official announcements regarding loan disbursements, upkeep payments and other programme-related matters would be made through its verified platforms.
The agency also urged the public to verify information before sharing it, warning that the spread of false information could create unnecessary anxiety among students and their families.
The student loan scheme remains one of the Federal Government’s flagship education initiatives aimed at reducing financial barriers to tertiary education and increasing access to academic opportunities across the country.
