Abraka 2027: Ibani urges constituents to leverage Tinubu’s NELFUND scheme

As political activities ahead of the 2027 Delta State House of Assembly election gather momentum, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abraka Constituency, Hon. Felix Erhimedafe, popularly known as Ibani, has urged students and residents struggling to pay school fees to take advantage of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme introduced by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Erhimedafe made the call on Monday in Oko-Erhirie Quarter, Abraka, during a meeting with members of the community as part of his engagement with constituents ahead of the commencement of the official campaign on September 9.

The APC candidate said the NELFUND initiative was designed to provide financial support to students who may otherwise be unable to continue their education because of financial constraints.

According to him, students in Abraka should acquaint themselves and their parents with the opportunities available under the scheme rather than abandon their education because of their inability to immediately pay school fees.

“For those going to school, be telling your parents the truth that Tinubu has introduced NELFUND, where students can go and borrow to pay school fees and won’t have to pay until they graduate and are gainfully employed.

“So, no child should complain that there is no money for education in our constituency because the government has made provision for that. In DELSU alone, about 4,000 students have benefited from NELFUND,” he said.

Erhimedafe also defended the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, particularly on food prices, claiming that the cost of a bag of rice has reduced significantly compared with the previous administration.

He recalled that a bag of rice sold for about N120,000 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, but claimed that the price had fallen to about N40,000 under the present administration.

“During the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, a bag of rice was sold for about N120,000, but as of today, the administration of Tinubu has brought down the price to about N40,000,” he stated.

The APC candidate further urged constituents to appreciate the importance of facilitating permanent and pensionable employment opportunities for young people, arguing that such opportunities could provide more sustainable benefits than one-off cash gifts.

He specifically commended the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, for what he described as his efforts in facilitating employment opportunities for several Abraka indigenes.

According to Erhimedafe, constituents should recognise and appreciate political leaders who assist young people in securing stable employment.

He maintained that pensionable employment offers beneficiaries long-term economic security and should therefore be valued as an important form of empowerment.

The engagement in Oko-Erhirie Quarter forms part of Erhimedafe’s wider mobilisation and community outreach ahead of the 2027 election, as political parties prepare for the formal commencement of campaign activities.