The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has shot down a viral claim spread via a fabricated image styled to look like a newspaper front page alleging that President Tinubu approved life imprisonment for students who default on education loans.
NELFUND flagged the image as fake on its official social media, noting it didn’t come from the government or the agency. A telling detail of the image bore a date of May 27, 2027 over eight months in the future from the day it was published.
Under the actual repayment rules established by the Student Loans Access to Higher Education Act, defaulters face no such penalty. Repayment only kicks in two years after a graduate completes (or is exempted from) NYSC, and only once they’re earning an income through payroll deductions for employees or a share of earnings for the self-employed. Those without jobs can apply for an extension. NELFUND is urging the public to verify any loan-related news through its official channels before sharing it.
