The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has directed all student-loan applicants to reset their account details on its official portal.
The move aims to resolve delays and failed transactions affecting upkeep allowances for thousands of beneficiaries.
The advisory, released through NELFUND’s verified channels on Tuesday, urged applicants who experienced payment issues to log in and update their details.
“All applicants who previously experienced issues with their upkeep payments are advised to log in and update their account details,” the Fund stated.
Portal Update and Key Instructions
Affected students are to visit the official portal — https://portal.nelf.gov.ng — and verify personal and bank information.
NELFUND warned applicants to ignore fake links and impostors.
“The only official portal for the NELFUND Student Loan is www.nelf.gov.ng,” the agency stressed.
Applicants must ensure their bank account number, Bank Verification Number (BVN), and contact information are correct.
The Fund said this step is vital for processing future upkeep payments without hitches.
A support officer confirmed that many failed disbursements resulted from mismatched BVN and bank records.
“Some applicants entered outdated or incorrect details,” the source explained. “We are fixing that through the reset process.”
Background and Progress
NELFUND was created under the Access to Higher Education Act, 2024 to provide interest-free loans to Nigerian students.
The scheme covers tuition fees and living allowances for students in public tertiary institutions.
Since its launch in May 2024, NELFUND has achieved significant milestones.
Over 600,000 students have registered, with more than ₦86 billion disbursed to date.
Data shows ₦47.6 billion paid directly to institutions, while ₦38.7 billion went to upkeep allowances.
However, the Fund has faced complaints over delayed upkeep payments and technical bottlenecks.
Some institutions also failed to upload verified student data on time.
These problems triggered payment failures for many beneficiaries.
Why the Update Matters
The latest directive seeks to clear such backlogs before the next disbursement cycle in November.
Payment issues have mostly affected students whose bank details no longer matched their BVN information.
Others changed banks or phone numbers after applying, disrupting automated transfers.
NELFUND said the account reset will align all records across its payment systems.
“We are harmonizing student data to prevent future disbursement issues,” the agency said. “Every affected applicant should act immediately.”
How to Update Your Details
1. Go to https://portal.nelf.gov.ng.
2. Log in with your registered email and password.
3. Open the Profile or Account Details section.
4. Review and update your bank account, BVN, and contact phone number.
5. Confirm your institution and matriculation details.
6. Save changes and re-login to verify updates.
7. Monitor your dashboard for disbursement status updates.
Students should also confirm that their institutions have uploaded their verified data.
Without institutional verification, payments cannot be processed.
Fraud Warning and Official Contacts
The Fund cautioned students against third-party agents claiming to assist with portal updates. All services are free.
Students should contact NELFUND through its verified channels:
- Website: www.nelf.gov.ng
- X (Twitter): @NELFUND
- Email: [email protected]
Any request for payment or “faster processing” outside official channels should be reported immediately.
Looking Ahead
The student loan scheme continues to expand nationwide.
Applications for the 2025/2026 academic session are expected to remain open until January 2026.
NELFUND plans to introduce a new dashboard to help schools monitor student verification in real time.
The agency assured applicants that all pending payments will be cleared once details are corrected.
“No eligible student will be left behind,” the Fund said. “We are committed to full disbursement transparency.”
Bottom Line
NELFUND’s student loan scheme remains one of Nigeria’s boldest education reforms.
But its success depends on accurate data and proactive compliance by beneficiaries.
Every affected applicant is strongly advised to update their account details immediately to avoid delays in upkeep payments.