In the first phase of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) disbursement, tertiary institutions in the South-East have been noticeably excluded.
According to a circular from NELFUND, over N2.9 billion has been allocated to cover tuition fees for more than 27,000 students across 19 higher institutions in Nigeria. However, none of these institutions are located in the South-East, while institutions from the other five geopolitical zones are represented.
When questioned about this exclusion, NELFUND spokesperson Nasir Ayitogo provided said: “There is no consideration of geopolitical zones in disbursement,” Mr. Ayitogo clarified. He further elaborated that only institutions that responded to NELFUND’s verification lists, which were sent to eligible schools nationwide, received funds.
“NELFUND sent a verification list to every institution eligible for disbursement. Only institutions that have responded are being paid. We are yet to get any response from the institutions from the South-East,” Mr. Ayitogo explained.
This exclusion has reignited longstanding criticisms directed at the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, which has been accused of neglecting the South-East region since it came into power in 2015.
Just days before his death on July 25, former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu voiced his concerns about the marginalization of the South-East.
“Forty-eight ministers were appointed by Mr. President; by the law of federal character, South-East should have eight ministers, but we have only five ministers while some other zones have up to ten,” Mr. Iwuanyanwu stated.
He also pointed to the lack of railway infrastructure development in the South-East despite the region’s significant trade activity.
