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The Arewa Defense League (ADL) condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for discontinuing the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme, which supported Nigerian students abroad. Murtala Abubakar, ADL president, stated that the abandonment harms students facing hardship in countries including China, Russia, Morocco, and Hungary.

The government announced in May 2025 that it would cease funding for foreign scholarships, citing domestic alternatives. The ADL noted that while the government claims financial constraints, it included N1.764 billion in the 2026 budget for new BEA scholarships, which raises questions about fairness and prioritization. Protests by affected students continue, with no resolution or support provided for existing beneficiaries.