The Chairman of the Cyprus Students’ Parents Association, Zamfara State, has again appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal to settle the debt owed for students studying at Cyprus International University, stating that their residence permits, tuition fees, and accommodation have expired.

In a press conference in Gusau on Friday evening, the Chairman of the Cyprus Students’ Parents Association, Zamfara State, Ambassador Ibrahim Tudu, faulted the Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the Zamfara State Governor, Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, for allegedly misinforming the public about the situation of Zamfara State students in Cyprus.

“The Special Assistant to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawal, on Media and Communications, Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, has grossly misinformed the general public and misrepresented the Zamfara State Government on the true situation of Zamfara State-sponsored students currently facing hardship in Cyprus,” he said.

“It becomes necessary for us, as parents and guardians of the students and responsible Zamfara State citizens, to comment on the erroneous and deliberate misinformation spread by Mustafa Jafaru Kaura on the issue of Cyprus students, which was aired on radio stations recently.

“In the said radio broadcast, Mustafa alleged that payment of N290 million was made by the government for Cyprus students. He also mentioned that the students refused to come back after being issued flight tickets to Nigeria and a sum of 100 USD for transport.

“He concluded that nobody should henceforth blame the government for abandoning the students in Cyprus. Furthermore, he erroneously put the total number of students at 72 only.

“Mustafa is not aware that since his last interview about the visit by the Zamfara State delegation, the payment of flight tickets for the students to return, and the last payment, which is part of the debt by the state government amounting to N290 million, a lot has transpired between His Excellency Dr. Dauda, the Ulama Council, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, and Cyprus International University.

“The reason why the students could not come back is simply because His Excellency Dr. Dauda Lawal himself gave parents an assignment with a deadline of two weeks, which they successfully executed and submitted to the government.

“So, ladies and gentlemen, we are here to appeal again to His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal, that the accumulated debt of the 88 students (not 72 students), amounting to more than a billion naira, which has not been paid, should please be settled.

“Their tuition fees, accommodation, residence permits, and feeding have not been paid; these expired some time ago. We are still appealing to His Excellency to please respond positively and pay the debt.

“The Ulama Consultative Council, the Parents’ Association, the Students’ Union, and the good people of Zamfara State are still optimistic, still waiting, and hopeful that the Zamfara State Government and Cyprus International University will come to an agreement and resolve the debt owed by the government, to enable the students to finish the remaining semesters, graduate, and receive their degree certificates.” (Saturday Tribune)