A fraudulent notice claiming the existence of a new 2026 student loan registration portal has prompted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to alert the public, warning that the circulating link is fake and potentially dangerous to unsuspecting applicants.

The dubious message, which falsely attributed a directive to President Bola Tinubu, claimed the portal was opened in response to complaints from Nigerian students about the loan scheme. It also promoted a suspicious link as an official channel for student loan registration and cash transfers.

NELFUND dismissed the claims entirely, describing the promoted link as fraudulent. The Fund took to its official X handle on Thursday to address the situation directly, urging Nigerians to exercise caution.

"Please ensure you verify all links and rely only on our official channels for accurate information. Remain vigilant against misinformation, fake news, and potential scams," NELFUND stated.

This is not an isolated incident. Similar fraudulent messages made the rounds in 2025, with scammers falsely invoking presidential directives to lure applicants into fake portals or deceive them with promises of easy cash transfers.

The NELFUND loan, enacted under the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024, and signed into law by President Tinubu, is an interest free facility designed to support Nigerian students in higher education. It covers tuition fees and monthly upkeep allowances, with repayment expected to begin two years after completion of the National Youth Service Programme (NYSC).

The Fund urged students and members of the public to rely exclusively on its verified channels for accurate information and to report suspicious links or messages to the appropriate authorities.