We Are Stranded, Face Deportation – Students On Zamfara Govt Scholarships To India Lament Non-Payment Of School Fees, 20-Month Allowances
SaharaReporters learnt that the students had also been evicted from their universities’ apartments because the state government defaulted in its payment of the students’ fees.
Students of Zamfara State currently studying in India on scholarship have lamented the non-payment of their stipends for the past 20 months by the state government.
SaharaReporters learnt that the students had also been evicted from their universities’ apartments because the state government defaulted in its payment of the students’ fees.
One of the displaced students stated that the situation had left them in serious financial difficulty and had started affecting their academic performances.
He noted that they find it difficult to fend for themselves and that there are no job opportunities for foreign students in India.
“I’m one of the sponsored students by Zamfara State government under the previous administration to India, as the new administration came, it promised to continue sponsoring us, but reverse is the case now; we’re left stranded here in India,” he told SaharaReporters.
“None of us has any valid documents as all our passports and visas have expired; we were all sent out of the hostels due to non-payment of our tuition fees. As I am communicating to you now, we haven’t received any upkeep allowances since November 2022.
“We are calling for the government urgent intervention. They can as well return us to our parents as we’re at the risk of being sent to prison due to residents permit. We are now staying illegally. Some students have resorted to begging on the streets.
“The governor has made statement saying he released the funds for our payment of tuition fees, but here in India we’re yet to receive anything; all students of my own school, Sharda University.”
