The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to send a delegation to the UK to address the deportation of Nigerian students by Teesside University due to tuition payment challenges caused by fluctuations in the naira. This move was revealed by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) on Wednesday.

The delegation will be led by Christian Okeke, a representative of the Nigerian Embassy in the UK, and Yemi Soile, President of the Nigerian Students Union UK. This decision follows a virtual meeting held with many affected students on Sunday.

The envoys will meet with the management of Teesside University to discuss the “allegations of unfair and unjust deportation orders served on some Nigerian students, in the middle of their studies.”

Last week, Nigerian students at Teesside University began protesting the suspension of their programs and the directive to leave the UK following a payment crisis due to naira fluctuations. The university had changed its tuition fee payment plan from seven instalments to three, exacerbating the students’ financial difficulties.

Approximately 60 students, who shared their names with the BBC, called for support from the university after many who defaulted on payments were frozen out of their university accounts and involuntarily withdrawn from their courses.

During the virtual meeting on Zoom, the affected students shared their experiences and expressed hope for a positive outcome from the planned delegation as they risk deportation following the school’s decision.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, appealed to the students to remain calm and assured them of a resolution. In a short video recording of the meeting, she stated, “I’m sending a delegation from the Nigerian government. They’ll also tell us why they are doing what they’re doing. We’re not saying you’re not going to pay, but we’re saying [they] cannot destroy or disrupt your studies in the middle.”

The situation at Teesside University is one of many challenges faced by Nigerian students abroad, affected by the devaluation of the naira.