Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has approved higher undergraduate registration charges for the 2026/2027 academic session, with fees for Nigerian students ranging from ₦143,000 to ₦298,000, depending on their programme and level of study.
The revised schedule represents a substantial increase from the previous session, when registration charges reportedly ranged between ₦62,000 and ₦84,000.
The university’s Governing Council approved the new charges at its 218th special meeting on September 29, 2026, following a resolution by the Senate and consultations with stakeholders within the university community.
The revised fees vary across faculties, academic levels and student categories. The applicable amounts also differ for Nigerian students, non-resident Nigerians and international students, meaning the overall cost depends on each student’s circumstances and programme.
The adjustment is likely to renew attention on the financial demands facing families seeking university education in Nigeria, particularly as households continue to contend with rising living expenses.
For parents and students, higher institutional charges can add to the cost of accommodation, transportation, textbooks, feeding and other requirements associated with university life. The combined burden may be especially difficult for families supporting more than one student.
Universities, meanwhile, face continuing pressure to fund infrastructure, laboratories, teaching facilities and other services required to maintain academic standards. The challenge is to balance institutional financing needs with students’ ability to pay.
ABU’s new fee structure highlights the wider debate over how Nigerian public universities should finance their operations without making access to higher education increasingly difficult for lower-income households.
Students are advised to consult the university’s official portal for the approved schedule applicable to their faculty, programme and level before making payments.