FG Intervenes in Alleged Threat to Deport Nigerian Students from UK Over School Fees

By:Olufemi Orunsola

The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon.Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the instance of the Federal Government of Nigeria, has expressed deep concerns over the alleged deportation of Nigerian students from Teesside University in the UK for defaulting on their school fees.

According to a press statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocol at NiDCOM, Abuja, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Commission, has announced that a delegation would visit the university’s management to address the issue.

“A delegation, led by a representative of the Nigerian Embassy in the UK, Amb. Christian Okeke, along with leaders of the Nigerian Students Union in the UK, will visit the management of Teesside University to intervene in the allegations of an unfair and unjust deportation order served on some Nigerian students in the middle of their studies,” she stated.

Open Television Naija reports that the intervention came after a virtual meeting held on Sunday, involving Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Amb. Christian Okeke, Mr. Yemi Soile, President of the Nigerian Students Union UK, and several affected students. During the meeting, the students shared their ordeal, expressing hope for a positive resolution.

“The affected students passionately narrated their ordeal and were optimistic about a positive intervention,” the statement assured.

The NIDCOM Chairman, Hon.Dabiri-Erewa urged the affected students to remain calm and not to take the law into their own hands, appealing to the university to handle the situation with justice and fairness.

“We are committed to ensuring that our students are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” she maintained.

The issue came to light when some Nigerian students at Teesside University staged a protest on May 22, following the university authorities’ directive for them to leave the UK due to alleged non-payment of school fees after which, Open Television Naija reported the incident and appealed to the Federal Government to rise to the occasion.

The intervention by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission

(NIDCOM) is targeted at ensuring that Nigerian students abroad are not unfairly treated and that their fundamental human rights are protected against undue violation.

While many have criticized the Federal Government for its failure to appoint substantive Ambassadors to foreign missions to cater for welfare and crucial needs of Nigerians in the diaspora, the swift response of the Chairman, NIDCOM, Dabiri-Erewa in partnership with the Chargé d'affaires protocols of Nigeria Embassy in the United proves the commitment of the Federal government to the welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly students striving to further their education in foreign countries.