The Zamfara Circle Community Initiative has called on the Zamfara State Government to urgently address the plight of the state students left stranded in Cyprus, struggling with expired visas, inadequate housing, and financial hardship.
During a press briefing today (Thursday), Dr. Aminu Lawal, Chairman of Zamfara Circle, revealed the ongoing challenges faced by these students, many of whom are now working menial jobs to survive.
This situation surfaced after a video by social critic Dan Bello highlighted the students’ struggles, sparking public outcry and demands for swift action.
In response, the state governor’s spokesperson issued a statement claiming that funds had been allocated to assist the students. However, according to Zamfara Circle, a wide gap remains between the funds promised and the support students actually received.
Despite appointing a three-member committee in August to verify the students’ needs and outstanding debts, the committee failed to implement most of its mandate, apart from student verification. While the government reportedly paid 100 million naira toward these debts in June, the funds are yet to appear in students’ records, further complicating their situation.
Zamfara Circle’s FOI request to the state Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology remains unanswered, as the students continue to face risks of exploitation and deportation due to expired documents. At least one student has already been deported, while another remains imprisoned in Cyprus.
The Zamfara Circle recommended urgent financial assistance for the students, including funds for visas and accommodation, and called for collaboration with the Nigerian Mission in Ankara to address the students’ legal status. The initiative stressed the urgency of paying the outstanding university fees based on figures generated from student portals and urged the government to take proactive steps to prevent similar crises in the future.
