NANS demands urgent help for suffering Nigerian students in UK

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the horrendous challenges faced by Nigerian students in the United Kingdom, calling on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to immediately take steps to ease the plight and frustration of the students.

This was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by NANS National Deputy Senate President, Comrade Ekundina Elvis Segun and NANS Ogun Joint Campus Committee Chairman, Comrade Kehinde Damilola Simeon, on Sunday in Abuja.

NANS warned that the students would not hesitate to apply the instrument of force to shut down the UK embassy in due time if those problems persist.

Part of the statement reads: “We have received complaints directly and read a series of painful revelations by Nigerian students abroad and their parents who are faced with the risk of being deported after so many resources, both academic and materials, had been expended on seeking admission and travelling to the UK to pursue their academic goals.

“Prominent of such mind-disturbing revelations was in the statement released by the UK Chapter President of NANS, Michael Obakhavbaye, who expressed the critical challenges Nigerian students are facing in the UK as reported in the media on Friday.

“Notable among the institutions where these problems are harsh is the University of Hull and Reading University. We have established from our local and international contacts that Nigerians are the only set of people facing these problems. Nationals of other countries are without these problems.

“Conclusively, we demand the recall and interrogation of both the Nigerian Ambassador to the UK, Sarafa Tunji Ishola, and the Chairman Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Abike-Dabiri, by the House of Assembly as we no longer feel confident that they are not compromising the interest of poor Nigerian citizens.

“The Senate Committee on Finance chaired by Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola is also called on to call the CBN and Nigerian banks to order. We shall not hesitate to apply our instrument of force to shut down the UK embassy in due time if these problems persist.”