The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has confirmed that its students who were left stranded in China while returning from a one-year academic exchange programme are now travelling back to Nigeria after the institution intervened.
The development followed widespread reactions on social media after an appeal for help was posted on X on Monday by user @Osunwede, popularly known as Turah BMG.
“Please treat as urgent! Who has the contact of Unilag VC, some of their students are currently stranded in a foreign country!!! Please!!!,” she said.
She later explained the circumstances surrounding the students’ predicament.
“She has been contacted. They were to return to Nigeria after a 1 year study in China, a lecturer was in charge (payment was made as at last year).
The agent the lecturer used booked a 27hr layover in Qatar. Qatar doesn’t allow more than 24hr layover except you have a visa.”
Another X user, @Senatoradeyemi2, known as Senatorgraphy, also commented on the incident, alleging that the students encountered difficulties while attempting to return to Nigeria after participating in UNILAG’s exchange programme.
“For those that are curious, they are students of Unilag, they went to China for an exchange program.
They were meant to have returned to their home country in Nigeria on Monday but because of a lecturer’s negligence and agent which obviously comes to monetary.”
He further alleged that the affected students became stranded in Shanghai after their travel arrangements failed.
“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 the case it didn’t work out and now the students are meant to suffer for his incompetence,” he alleged.
According to him, the students were also forced to make an additional journey because of the flight arrangements.
“They are currently in Shanghai and have to travel another 15 hours down to Beijing to be able to book a flight down to their home country.
This all happened because the VC got involved; it was supposed to be a clean transaction. The school should fish out the lecturer,” he said.
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He later disclosed that the university’s Vice-Chancellor had provided financial support to assist the students.
“The VC has sent them money for food. Thank you for your timely intervention Ma. This is great.
“This is cool if VC would do this, the lecturer should face disciplinary actions. It doesn’t even make sense, however I’m glad the VC has come up to make amends.
Let’s see how it goes they are around 10am now when the day breaks here, hopefully everything is sorted,” the X user said.
Responding through its official X handle, @UnilagNigeria, the university announced that the matter had been resolved and confirmed that the students were already on their journey back to Nigeria.
“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.”
Reacting to the update on Tuesday, Turah BMG expressed appreciation to the university and the Vice-Chancellor for acting promptly but urged the institution to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident.
“Thank you so much & to the VC for swift response. However, a proper investigation needs to be carried out so such won’t repeat itself again.
The lecturer in charge is subtly threatening to fail the students for daring to raise alarm. He has been said to be notorious for this.”
UNILAG has not yet commented on the allegation against the lecturer or indicated whether it has begun an internal investigation into the matter.