The Zamfara State government has alleged that former governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, sent 93 students to Cyprus International University without ensuring proper financial support or documentation.

Speaking in Abuja, Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Wadatau Madawaki, criticized the previous administration for what he described as a poorly planned scholarship scheme that left students without paid tuition, accommodation, or feeding allowances since 2022, subjecting them to significant hardship.

According to Madawaki, the arrangement, made through a hired consultant, lacked a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the university. This “full-package” plan placed accommodation and feeding costs under the university’s control, charging students whether they ate or not, which Madawaki claimed contributed to their challenges. The commissioner also stated that since 2022, the Matawalle administration stopped payments, leading to growing debt and causing students to miss classes as university authorities ceased allowing attendance.

The Zamfara government recently made a partial payment toward these debts, though Madawaki emphasized ongoing account reconciliation.