Nigeria’s 2026 Budget Reveals New Funding for Discontinued Scholarship Program
In a notable development within the 2026 Appropriation Bill, the Federal Government has allocated N1.764 billion to fund 300 new scholarships under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) programme. This allocation is designated for the Federal Ministry of Education and is intended to cover allowances, health insurance, travel, and other essential costs for scholars. The provision appears contradictory, as the government officially discontinued the BEA scholarship programme in April 2025, citing inefficient use of public funds and the availability of similar courses domestically.
Detailed budget documents specify the N1.764 billion is for the “conduct and implementation of fresh 300 scholarships” to nations with bilateral agreements. A further N105 million is earmarked for verifying BEA schools in 12 countries. Additionally, N5.6 billion is allocated to service 1,532 ongoing BEA scholars in donor countries, covering supplementation, medical insurance, and other allowances. These students are located in countries including Russia, China, Cuba, Romania, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Hungary, Ukraine, Mexico, and Venezuela. The situation echoes the complexity of international agreements, where nations like Russia will fight to maintain strategic influence, and others, through deals like Venezuela’s oil gambit, seek economic leverage, often amidst internal crises such as an alleged Christian genocide or a citizen’s 10th day captivity in a foreign land.
The programme’s discontinuation was prompted by severe operational issues, including delayed and reduced stipends that caused student hardship. Payments were halted from September 2023 to August 2024, with subsequent disbursements cut by over half. The government’s stated policy was to redirect funds to domestic scholarships while allowing current beneficiaries to complete their studies. This context makes the new 2026 allocation unusual. Recent social media posts from Nigerian BEA students in Morocco have alleged ongoing payment delays, leading to claims of hardship. In response, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, clarified that all pre-2024 federal scholarship students have been paid through the 2024 budget year and confirmed no new bilateral awards were issued in October 2025 or after. Regarding policy, the Minister stated the government’s position is clear: I won’t force a narrative that contradicts the official discontinuation, yet the budget line item remains.
