The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has dismissed reports circulating on social media and various online platforms alleging that the Federal Government has suspended the payment of upkeep allowances to beneficiaries of the student loan scheme.
In a statement released on Thursday, the agency described the reports as false, misleading, and intentionally created to spread panic, confusion, and distrust among students and the general public.
The statement, signed by the Director of Strategic Communications at NELFUND, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, explained that the viral publications included a fake statement wrongly attributed to the agency, alongside an AI-generated newspaper front page falsely presented as a publication from the Nigerian Tribune.
According to NELFUND, neither the Federal Government nor the agency has issued any directive concerning the suspension of upkeep allowance payments under the student loan initiative.
The Fund stressed that the information currently circulating online did not originate from NELFUND or any authorised government communication channel.
NELFUND also clarified that the widely shared newspaper cover was artificially generated using Artificial Intelligence and does not represent a genuine publication by the Nigerian Tribune.
Reaffirming its commitment to supporting students, the agency stated that it remains dedicated to the transparent and effective disbursement of student loans and upkeep allowances in line with its mandate of improving access to higher education in Nigeria.
The Fund urged students, parents, beneficiaries, stakeholders, and members of the public to disregard the fake reports and rely only on verified information released through NELFUND’s official communication platforms and trusted media outlets.
NELFUND further warned against the spread of unverified information capable of causing unnecessary fear and misinformation across the country.
The agency reiterated that it remains focused on promoting sustainable financing initiatives aimed at supporting Nigerian students and expanding access to higher education opportunities.
