The Zamfara Circle Community Initiative has issued a five-day ultimatum for immediate intervention concerning the plight of stranded students in Cyprus.
At a press briefing held in Gusau, the Chairman of the organisation, Dr Al-amin Tsafe, expressed deep concern over the dire circumstances facing these students, urging the state to address the issue without delay.
“We are in contact with various philanthropists and well-meaning individuals and organisations from within and outside the state who are willing to intervene and help to support the students. We believe the matter is the responsibility of the government,” Mr. Tsafe emphasized, highlighting the crucial role of the government in resolving the situation.
The civil society organisation, dedicated to humanitarian causes, made it clear that parents cannot idly witness their children’s lives endangered. “Therefore, we give a five-day ultimatum to the state government to take action before we embark on an appeal fund project to rescue the students,” Mr. Tsafe declared.
He further elaborated on the memorandum submitted to the state government on October 17, 2024, which aimed to balance information from various stakeholders, including parents, CSOs, and the students themselves. “Till today, however, there is no response to that inquiry,” he lamented.
Acknowledging the inherited nature of the issue from the previous administration, Mr. Tsafe stated, “We believe the business of governance is a continuum. We noted that the state government under Governor Dauda Lawal made some moves to help the students.” However, the students continue to face challenges, including inadequate accommodation and the need to undertake menial jobs to survive.
The lack of legal documentation has further exacerbated their situation, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by employers. “Their visas and passports have expired, for them to live in a foreign country without legal documentation puts their lives at the risk of imprisonment and deportation. Already, one of the students had suffered this fate and was deported to Lagos in handcuffs and another one is still in prison,” Mr. Tsafe revealed. He called for urgent financial support for the students’ upkeep and accommodation, and for the renewal of their passports and visas to prevent further legal repercussions.
Mr. Tsafe urged the government to utilize figures generated from the students’ portals as verified debts owed to the universities and to take decisive action to prevent such occurrences in the future.
In response, Governor Dauda Lawal, through a press release from his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Sulaiman Idris, assured that the state government was implementing measures to resolve the crisis. However, the urgency of the civil society’s ultimatum underscores the critical need for prompt governmental action to safeguard the students’ welfare.
