The University of Lagos has confirmed that a group of its students stranded in China while returning from a one year academic exchange programme are now on their way back to Nigeria, following swift intervention by the institution after a viral appeal on the social media platform X.

The matter came to public attention after an X user identified as Turah BMG raised an alarm on Monday, calling for urgent intervention.

"Please treat as urgent! Who has the contact of the Unilag VC? Some of their students are currently stranded in a foreign country!!! Please!!!," she said.

She subsequently provided further details, explaining that the students were meant to return to Nigeria after a year of study in China and that a lecturer in charge had made the travel arrangements, with payment completed the previous year.

"The agent the lecturer used booked a 27hr layover in Qatar. Qatar doesn't allow more than 24hr layover unless you have a visa," she wrote.

Another X user, identified as Senatorgraphy, alleged that the students had travelled to China under a UNILAG exchange programme but encountered difficulties returning home due to what he described as a lecturer's negligence.

"They are stranded in China. An average Nigerian is wicked; the lecturer, instead, didn't manage the funds well and had to put them into the struggle, trying to book cheap flights in case it didn't work out, and now the students are meant to suffer for his incompetence," he alleged.

He further claimed the students were stranded in Shanghai and would need to travel an additional 15 hours to Beijing to secure a flight home, before noting that the Vice Chancellor had intervened.

"The VC has sent them money for food. Thank you for your timely intervention, Ma. This is great," he said, adding that the lecturer should face disciplinary action.

Responding through its official X account, the university confirmed that the situation had been resolved.

"Thank you for reaching out, @Osunwede. The situation has been swiftly resolved. The students have been well taken care of and are now on their way back home. As we await their safe return, on behalf of the @UnilagVC, we appreciate everyone who brought this to our attention," the university stated.

Reacting on Tuesday, Turah BMG thanked the institution and the Vice Chancellor for the swift response but called for a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

"Thank you so much & to the VC for the swift response. However, a proper investigation needs to be carried out so such won't repeat itself. The lecturer in charge is subtly threatening to fail the students for daring to raise an alarm. He has been said to be notorious for this," she said.

The university has yet to publicly respond to the allegation against the lecturer or confirm whether an internal investigation has commenced.