NELFUND Disburses Additional ₦21.7bn: How Students Can Confirm Payment Status

• NELFUND disburses additional ₦21.7bn to students. See total payments, beneficiaries, upkeep allowance update and how to check your NELFUND payment status.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has reportedly disbursed an additional ₦21.71 billion to student loan beneficiaries within two months.

According to data reported by The Guardian, the fresh disbursement was made between May 5 and July 3, 2026, raising total payments under the Federal Government student loan scheme to ₦303.91 billion.

The report also showed that the number of student beneficiaries increased by 48,755, rising from 1.59 million to 1.64 million within the period.

Breakdown of the latest NELFUND disbursement

The reported additional ₦21.71bn covered both institutional fees and students’ upkeep allowances.

The breakdown shows:

• Institutional fee payments increased by ₦6.15bn
• Upkeep allowance payments increased by ₦15.56bn
• Total institutional fee payments rose to ₦190.06bn
• Total upkeep disbursement rose to ₦113.85bn
• Total payments under the scheme rose to ₦303.91bn

This means more students have either had their school fees paid to their institutions or received upkeep support under the loan scheme.

How students can confirm NELFUND payment status

Students who applied for the FG student loan can confirm their payment status through the official NELFUND portal.

Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official NELFUND portal

Go to:

Do not use links sent by unknown agents or social media accounts.

2. Log in to your student account

Enter the email address and password used during your NELFUND application.

If you have forgotten your password, use the password reset option on the portal.

3. Go to the loan section

After logging in, check the menu or dashboard for the Loan or Application section.

This is where your loan application history and status should appear.

4. Check the current status

Your status may show as:

• Submitted
• Pending
• Verified
• Approved
• Disbursed
• Rejected or needs correction

If your status shows Disbursed, it means payment has been processed either to your school or through the approved channel.

5. Download proof of disbursement if available

Some beneficiaries may be able to download payment confirmation or proof of disbursement from the portal.

This can be useful if your school has not updated your student record.

6. Confirm with your institution

If NELFUND has paid your school fees, the money is usually sent directly to the institution.

Students should also check:

• School portal
• Bursary department
• Student account statement
• NELFUND desk officer in the school
• Department or faculty finance office

What to do if NELFUND says disbursed but school portal is not updated

If your NELFUND portal shows that payment has been disbursed but your school portal still shows unpaid fees, do not panic immediately.

You should:

1. Download proof of disbursement if available.
2. Visit your school bursary or student accounts office.
3. Ask for the school’s NELFUND desk officer.
4. Submit your details for reconciliation.
5. Keep checking your portal for updates.

Some schools may take time to reconcile bulk payments from NELFUND.

What to do if your upkeep allowance has not arrived

If your upkeep allowance has not entered your bank account, check that:

• Your bank details are correct
• Your BVN/NIN verification is complete
• Your school has verified your student record
• Your application has moved beyond pending stage
• Your bank account is active and can receive payment

NELFUND has also warned students to rely only on official communication channels, especially as fake notices about suspension of upkeep payments have circulated online.

Has NELFUND suspended upkeep allowance?

No official announcement says NELFUND has suspended upkeep allowance payments.

Recent reports said NELFUND dismissed claims that the Federal Government had suspended students’ upkeep payments, describing such notices as fake.

Students should therefore avoid panic messages on WhatsApp, Facebook or Telegram unless they are confirmed through NELFUND’s official channels.

Official NELFUND channels

Students should use only official channels such as:

• NELFUND website: https://nelf.gov.ng
• Student loan portal: https://portal.nelf.gov.ng
• Help/support: https://nelfund.esupport.ng
• Verified NELFUND social media pages

Warning to students

Do not pay anyone to “fast-track” your NELFUND payment.

The student loan application is handled through the official portal. Anyone asking for money to approve your loan or release your upkeep allowance should be treated with caution.

FAQs

How do I check my NELFUND payment status?
Log in to portal.nelf.gov.ng, open your loan/application section and check the current status.

What does “disbursed” mean on NELFUND portal?
It means payment has been processed either to your institution or through the approved beneficiary channel.

Can I receive NELFUND school fees directly into my account?
Institutional fees are usually paid directly to schools, while upkeep allowance is meant for eligible student beneficiaries.

What should I do if my school has not reflected payment?
Download proof of disbursement if available and report to your school bursary or NELFUND desk officer.

Has NELFUND stopped upkeep allowance?
No official NELFUND notice has confirmed any suspension of upkeep allowance payments.

Where is the official NELFUND portal?
The official portal is https://portal.nelf.gov.ng.