A viral notice circulating across student WhatsApp groups and Facebook communities has falsely claimed that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has suspended the disbursement of upkeep allowances due to an alleged shortage of funds.
The notice, titled “URGENT NOTICE TO ALL NELFUND BENEFICIARIES,” alleged that the agency was overwhelmed by the increasing number of applications and nationwide disbursements, leading to the temporary suspension of upkeep payments for June and July 2026.
According to the circulating memo, students under the scheme were advised to remain patient while awaiting further updates from the agency.
However, findings show that the claim is false. Checks conducted across NELFUND’s official communication platforms, including its website and verified social media pages, revealed no announcement regarding the suspension of upkeep allowances.
As of the time of this report, the agency had not issued any statement confirming a shortage of funds or halting student upkeep payments.
Further observations also revealed inconsistencies in the format and reference code used in the viral document, raising doubts about its authenticity. The notice did not originate from any verified NELFUND platform, despite being widely circulated online.
Recent conversations surrounding the student loan scheme have largely centred on delayed payments affecting some beneficiaries in certain institutions, not a nationwide suspension of the upkeep programme.
This is not the first time false information about the scheme has circulated online. In April 2026, NELFUND cautioned the public against relying on unverified notices and urged beneficiaries to obtain updates strictly from its official channels.
Students and stakeholders are therefore advised to disregard the viral memo and avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic among beneficiaries.
Official NELFUND updates remain available through the agency’s verified website and social media platforms.
Credit: IndyPress
