AEFUNAI Fee Hike: NANS Clarifies First Meeting With Management Was Fact-Finding as Students Demand Total Reversal; Student Fears Dropouts, Warns Fee Increase Could Push Female Students into Prostitution

Students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AEFUNAI), are demanding a total reversal of the amended 2026/2027 academic fee schedule, with some expressing fears of dropping out over the increased financial burden.The NANS Ebonyi State Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Chairman, Chukwunonso Onyibe Onwe (Esq.), clarified that the association’s initial meeting with university management was a fact-finding engagement to understand the situation. He said NANS was still studying and investigating the fee schedule before issuing an official position.In a statement to students, Onwe questioned the financial burden of charges including ₦25,000 for security, development, accreditation and parents’ fees, expressing concern that students were expected to continue paying certain charges throughout their university years.He described the charges as harsh amid Nigeria’s economic challenges and said the association would make its position known after its investigation.Meanwhile, students have rejected calls for a mere reduction, insisting on a total reversal of the amended schedule and a return to the previous fee structure.A student said the increase was unaffordable and warned that they some students might drop out if nothing was done to address the situation.Another student, a 400-level Mass Communication student, reported that they had yet to clear third-party charges from 200 level and relied on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to settle their 300-level fees. The student expressed concern about meeting final-year expenses, including project costs.A third student warned that the financial pressure could push female students into prostitution and criticised the Students’ Union Government (SUG) over its handling of the fee issue. The allegation reflects the student’s concern and has not been independently established as an outcome of the fee increase.The students’ demands come amid increases in the amended fee schedule. For example, the grand total for Engineering final-year students rose from ₦113,300 in the previous session to ₦248,300 in the current session, an increase of ₦135,000, excluding applicable additional charges.Despite the students’ demand for total reversal, NANS has yet to announce a final position, with its investigation into the revised charges ongoing.