About 8,971 students at federal universities in the North-West zone have benefitted from the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The scheme was introduced to expand access to higher education and reduce the financial burden on students from low and middle-income families.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Kano while presenting the mid-term report of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He said Bayero University Kano (BUK) recorded the highest number of beneficiaries nationwide.

He stated, “Breakdown of disbursements shows that Federal University Dutsinma received N409 million, Federal University Dutse got N593 million, while Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), benefitted to the tune of N578 million.’’

Mr Idris, represented by the Director, National Orientation Agency, Kano State, Rabiu Ado, explained that the initiative was part of wider reforms to reposition education in the zone.

He recalled that the Federal Government recently upgraded the Federal College of Education (FCE), Kano, to a University of Education, and the Federal Polytechnic, Kabo, to the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kano State.

According to him, the establishment of the North-West Development Commission (NWDC), with headquarters in Kano State, would further accelerate infrastructure, human capital, and economic development across the region.

The minister said construction of 5,000 housing units was ongoing in all seven states of the zone to provide affordable accommodation for low- and middle-income families.

He added, “On transportation, work is progressing on the Sokoto–Tambuwal–Jega and Birnin Kebbi–Sokoto roads, designed to enhance inter-state movement and trade flow. The Kano–Birnin Gwari–Jebba road and the Kano–Kaduna superhighway is also being built to ease movement of goods and passengers, and the Kaduna Eastern Bypass aims to decongest traffic and improve logistics within the metropolis.’’

On rail transport, Mr Idris noted that the Kano–Katsina–Jibia–Maradi line was under construction to facilitate regional trade and cross-border movement with the Niger Republic.

He further said that power projects were being executed to enhance energy supply in the zone.

He said, “These include the Kano–Daura–Katsina wind energy project, the 300MW Zungeru power project (Zamfara line), and the Kano Power Project (KKMP) to improve electricity reliability in Kano,” he said.

Mr Idris stressed that the projects reflected the administration’s commitment to bridging infrastructure gaps and stimulating inclusive development in the North-West.

(NAN)