Nigerian Students Offered Flights Home After University Crisis

Following protests and government intervention, Teesside University has offered flights home to Nigerian students it previously reported to immigration after a currency crisis left them struggling to pay tuition fees.

The university had withdrawn sponsorship for several students facing financial difficulties due to Nigeria’s economic woes.

This action, coupled with a change in payment plans from seven to three installments, led to missed payments and ultimately, expulsion for some students.

The university maintained it had “no choice” but to report them to the Home Office as a breach of visa sponsorship.

Facing public pressure and action from the Nigerian government, Teesside University has now reversed course.

Some affected students will be re-enrolled and offered financial aid for flights back to Nigeria.

In an interview with BBC, one student said the offer did not go far enough, adding: “The wide-rippling effects of this are unmanageable and piling up.”

The university claims this is to support those who “need to return to their home country.”

“We are opening an international relief fund for this group only to offer additional financial support for these unexpected travel costs,” he said.

However, some students feel the university’s offer doesn’t go far enough.

They point out the disruption to their studies, the emotional distress caused, and the additional financial burden of potentially having to return to the UK later.

One student, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC, “I was asked to return home, pay the balance remaining and apply to return at a later date, but I don’t trust them now.

“I feel this is a way to escape responsibility and they may not let me come back.

“If they did, it would cost me thousands to pay flights, visa fees and NHS fees again.

“I’ve already spent so much coming here and now they want me to go back without any kind of certification to reflect my achievements.

“The whole aim of coming here was to study, we haven’t committed any kind of crime.

“There’s been no apology for the stress and trauma the university has put me through.”