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NELFUND: ‘Have You Given Students ₦5,000 Scholarship?’ — NANS President Replies Dino Melaye
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, has challenged ADC chieftain Dino Melaye to account for his record of supporting students after the former senator criticised the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Afeez made the remarks in a video circulating on social media on Tuesday while reacting to Melaye’s comments about the Federal Government’s student loan programme.
The NANS president questioned whether Melaye had personally provided scholarships or bursaries to students in his constituency.
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“Dino Melaye should come out and tell us if he has even given ₦5,000 as scholarship to students in his area, as bursary to students in his constituency,” Afeez said.
He questioned why Melaye should be the person shaping public opinion on education policy, particularly given his previous tenure in the Senate.
“Dino Melaye was a member of the 8th Senate, and I think he was one of the strongest members of the 8th Senate who was closer to the Senate President. What was his policy on education? What did he do to the students in his constituency?” he asked.
Afeez also criticised Melaye’s understanding of the NELFUND programme, saying the former lawmaker appeared to have confused the monthly upkeep payment with the entire support provided under the scheme.
“If Dino Melaye had done some research at all, he wouldn’t have embarrassed himself like that on national television stating that just ₦20,000 was given to students per year,” the NANS president said.
He explained that NELFUND provides educational loans as well as monthly upkeep support to beneficiaries.
“NELFUND has loan, and NELFUND has upkeep. Students are getting their educational loan and they are also getting the upkeep monthly,” Afeez said.
“And the upkeep is not just ₦20,000 a year, it’s ₦20,000 monthly,” he added.
Afeez further questioned whether Melaye had examined NELFUND’s publicly available information before making his claims.
“Even if Dino Melaye should go to ordinary NELFUND page, he will see schools acknowledging that they have received money from NELFUND,” he said.
The NANS president also took a strong position on Melaye’s criticism, describing the ADC chieftain as a comedian and questioning whether people still take his comments seriously.
“Do people still take Dino Melaye serious? Dino Melaye is a comedian. He is a jester,” Afeez said.
He argued that anyone commenting on education policy should be sufficiently informed about the subject.
“It is not about campaign and it’s not about supporting, but one fact is that if you want to talk about the education policy of the present administration, you have to have something upstairs,” he said.
Afeez also alleged that Melaye had previously asked students to endorse former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar during the last election and subsequently failed to fulfil promises made to them.
“Dino Melaye, last election, came to Southwest to deceive students to endorse Atiku. After those students endorsed Atiku, he ran away with their money,” Afeez alleged.
He further claimed that Melaye had promised the students a vehicle.
Afeez concluded by dismissing Melaye’s criticism and saying NANS would continue to defend students’ interests.
The exchange followed Melaye’s earlier criticism of NELFUND, in which he described the programme as a “haven of corruption” and questioned the Federal Government’s claim that it was paying students’ school fees.
Melaye had specifically questioned the ₦20,000 payment, asking: “Which government school today takes ₦20,000 annual school fees?”
He also challenged NELFUND to publish the names of students who had benefited from the programme.
Shell has commended the recent reforms in the oil and gas industry as a right step in Nigeria’s aspiration to unlock more barrels of oil.
Delivering a goodwill message at the 44th annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos today, Executive Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Nigeria, Elohor Aiboni acknowledged the fiscal and regulatory incentives that have enhanced the competitiveness of Nigeria’s deepwater sector, strengthened investor confidence and reinforced her position as a destination for long-term energy investments.
“We look forward to deepening our partnership with NAPE, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), government and industry stakeholders as we work together to unlock more barrels, grow reserves, attract investment, and deliver greater value for Nigeria,” she said.
The theme of the five-day conference is: “Unlocking More Barrels: Driving Reserves Growth through Exploration, Local Capabilities and Adaptive Technology,” with geoscientists and associated professionals from within and outside the country in attendance.
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Aiboni described the theme as “timely and relevant as our industry works to strengthen energy security, attract investment and unlock Nigeria’s vast resource potential.” She commended NAPE President Olajumoke Cecelia Ajayi and the leadership team “for bringing industry stakeholders together around these critical priorities and for fostering the collaboration needed to drive reserves growth and sustainable investment in Nigeria’s energy sector.”
Aiboni also commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) “for its unwavering focus on growing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon production and reserves and continued partnership with industry in creating an enabling environment for investment and growth.”
Earlier, the NAPE president had acknowledged Aiboni’s achievements as Managing Director of SNEPCo and wished her more milestones in her role as Executive Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Nigeria.
Shell is a principal sponsor of the 44th annual international conference and exhibition of NAPE and is mounting an exhibition on its operations in Nigeria. Aiboni led dignitaries on a visit to the stand, including, Special Adviser to the Presidency on Energy, Olu Verheijen.
Photo Caption: Cross-section of delegates and industry stakeholders at the Shell booth during the 44th Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Annual International Conference and Exhibition at Eko Hotel, Lagos.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has warned motorists against driving against traffic, popularly known as one-way, cautioning that influential connections or calls from senior police officers and government officials will not shield offenders from prosecution.
The Command said the practice, particularly around road construction sites, diversion points and restricted routes, poses serious risks to lives and property.
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In a press statement issued on Monday, November 9, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the Command was concerned about the increasing disregard for traffic regulations by motorists who deliberately drive against traffic, ignore road signs and bypass designated diversions to avoid congestion.
Adeh stressed that no individual, regardless of status, position or connections, would be exempted from the consequences of violating traffic regulations.
She disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammad Sanusi, had directed the Command’s Motor Traffic Department (MOTOPOL) and all Divisional Traffic Officers (DTOs) to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to intensify enforcement operations.
According to the statement, the directive includes the arrest and immediate prosecution of motorists caught driving against traffic or disobeying lawful traffic instructions.
The Commissioner also warned police officers involved in the enforcement exercise against exploiting the operation to extort motorists, stressing that any officer found engaging in such misconduct would face disciplinary action in line with existing police rules and regulations.
The Command urged motorists to exercise patience, obey traffic signs and follow instructions from authorised traffic officers, noting that saving a few minutes through reckless driving was not worth the risk of losing lives or damaging property.
It also called on residents to remain security-conscious and report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station.
The Command provided the following emergency contact numbers for security-related reports: 08032003913 and 08061581938.
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, CP Ahmed Muhammad Sanusi, has inspected security deployments at churches across the territory, urging officers to maintain professionalism and vigilance during religious activities.
The inspection was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh.
Sanusi conducted the inspection on November 8, 2026, to assess the operational readiness of personnel deployed to worship centres and evaluate security arrangements for residents and worshippers.
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The exercise followed a similar inspection of mosques across the FCT on Friday, November 6, as the Command sustained efforts to strengthen security around religious centres.
During the visits, the police commissioner charged officers to remain professional and responsive in the discharge of their duties.
He also commended residents for their peaceful and orderly conduct following mosque and church services, noting that public cooperation remained essential to maintaining security and public order across the territory.
The commissioner urged residents to continue cooperating with the police and other law enforcement agencies, remain security-conscious and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the nearest police station.
He further encouraged residents to utilise the Command’s emergency lines, 08032003913 and 08061581938, to report security concerns.
Adeh said the Command’s Public Relations Office remained open and accessible to members of the public for enquiries, complaints, information and other security-related matters.
The FCT Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting residents and worshippers and maintaining security across the Federal Capital Territory.
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