A group known as the Zamfara Circle Community Initiative has raised serious concerns about the plight of Zamfara State-sponsored students stranded in Cyprus.
These students, who were sent on government scholarships, are reportedly facing harsh living conditions, with many male students sleeping in a mosque due to a lack of accommodation.
Dr. Aminu Lawal, the chairman of the Zamfara Circle Community Initiative, brought these issues to light during a press conference held in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State.
He expressed deep concern over the students’ difficult situation, highlighting how many of them are forced to work menial jobs to survive.
“The students are at risk of exploitation by employers due to a lack of legal documentation,” Dr. Lawal said, describing how the students are vulnerable in a foreign country without valid visas or passports.
According to him, these students face not only exploitation but also the risk of arrest and deportation.
“Living in a foreign country without legal documentation puts them at risk of imprisonment and deportation,” he explained, noting that one student has already been deported to Nigeria in handcuffs.
Another student, he added, is currently detained in a Cyprus prison, awaiting further action.
The group disclosed that, in an effort to seek transparency, Zamfara Circle had submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Zamfara State Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology on October 17, 2024.
Their goal was to gather details about the students’ situation directly from the government.
“The intent was to balance information from the government with that obtained from other stakeholders, including parents, civil society organizations, and the students themselves, to identify gaps and advise the government where necessary,” Dr. Lawal stated.
However, despite their request, the group claims they have yet to receive any response from the state ministry.
The lack of government action has intensified public outcry, with critics expressing frustration over the government’s handling of the matter.
Dan Bello, a prominent critic, recently shared a video on social media, shedding light on the students’ hardships.
The video, which quickly went viral, documented the students’ struggles, including their dependence on menial jobs to afford basic necessities.
Following the backlash from the video, the Zamfara State government issued a statement through the governor’s spokesperson.
In the statement, the government claimed it was working on solutions to address the students’ challenges.
According to Dr. Lawal, the state government formed a three-member committee in August 2024 to investigate the situation.
The committee’s mandate was to verify the number of students in Cyprus, assess their living conditions, determine the exact debt owed to the university, and propose solutions for both existing and future payments.
The committee, however, reportedly achieved only limited results, as the Zamfara Circle group revealed.
“The committee also toured where the students live but noticeably refused to visit the mosque where most male students sleep,” Dr. Lawal stated, quoting a committee member who allegedly remarked, ‘What would change if we were to see the place?’
Dr. Lawal expressed disappointment, adding, “Of course, nothing has changed since.”
In response to this ongoing crisis, the Zamfara Circle Community Initiative is urging the government to take immediate action.
They recommend that the state government urgently provide funds to support these students’ living expenses and arrange proper accommodation.
Additionally, the group is calling on the government to renew the students’ visas and passports to protect them from further legal issues.
“The government should take immediate steps to renew their passports and visas so they can live without fear of arrest, imprisonment, or deportation,” Dr. Lawal advised.
Furthermore, he called on the government to collaborate with the Nigerian Mission in Ankara to secure the release of the student currently in prison.
He emphasized the need for the government to start settling the university’s outstanding debts, using verified data from the students’ portals.
According to Dr. Lawal, this approach would enable the students to continue their studies without the fear of expulsion due to unpaid fees.
