The Student Wing of the Northern Youth Frontiers (NYF) has expressed deep concern over the growing insecurity affecting tertiary institutions across Northern Nigeria, warning that continuous attacks by bandits and kidnappers are threatening access to education and putting the lives of students at risk.
The group said that although the Federal Government’s student loan scheme through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has brought relief to many students, insecurity around campuses is undermining the impact of the intervention and discouraging learning.
The concerns were contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency joint congress attended by student leaders, youth stakeholders, and campus delegates from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the National Coordinator of the NYF Student Wing, Ibrahim Bello, and the Secretary-General, Hauwa Abdulaziz.
According to the group, many tertiary institutions and off-campus student communities across the North remain exposed to attacks, forcing students to live in constant fear while pursuing their education.
“We urgently appeal to President Bola Tinubu to intensify security efforts across Northern campuses, which remain vulnerable to threats from bandits and kidnappers,” the students stated.
They called on the Federal Government to increase funding for the Safe Schools Initiative and strengthen security presence around universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and student residential areas.
The congress also demanded regular military and police patrols around campuses and major transit routes used by students.
“Specifically, we call for the aggressive funding of the Safe Schools Initiative, alongside the deployment of specialised, round-the-clock military and police patrols around tertiary institutions, off-campus student residential zones and critical transit routes to guarantee that students can utilise their loans in safety and peace,” the communiqué added.
The students noted that insecurity has continued to disrupt academic activities, create fear among students and parents, and worsen educational challenges already facing the region.
Despite the security concerns, the group commended the Federal Government for implementing the NELFUND student loan programme, describing it as a major intervention that has restored hope to indigent students struggling with tuition and living expenses.
Read Also:
Three Killed in California Mosque Shooting as Teen Suspects Found Dead
According to the communiqué, more than ₦72.03bn has reportedly been disbursed directly into students’ accounts as monthly ₦20,000 upkeep support to help beneficiaries meet feeding, accommodation, and academic needs.
“By stepping in where poverty would have forced brilliant minds out of school, NELFUND has restored dignity to the less privileged and brought immense psychological and financial relief to countless struggling families,” the group stated.
The congress further disclosed that over 1.3 million Nigerian students had registered through the NELFUND portal, while more than ₦161.97bn had reportedly been disbursed under the scheme in 2026.
The students also passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, praising the student loan initiative as one of the administration’s most impactful education policies.
However, they warned that the benefits of the programme could be lost if insecurity around schools and campuses is not urgently addressed.
In recent years, several schools and tertiary institutions across Northern Nigeria have experienced attacks, kidnappings and other security threats, leading to school closures, disrupted academic calendars and growing fears among students, lecturers and parents.
Education stakeholders have repeatedly warned that continued insecurity could worsen the region’s out-of-school children crisis, which remains one of the biggest educational challenges in the country.
