Nigeria Debt Profile (Updated 2024)

Nigeria debt profile is at $103 Billion (N148 trillion in naira) Nigeria needs to handle its money and loans carefully. The government should make sure that any borrowed money is used wisely

Introduction

Nigeria’s national debt is a big problem. The country owes more than N97 trillion, which is over 100 billion dollars.

Every year, the government takes more loans to pay for projects, but this means the debt keeps growing.

Under President Muhammadu Buhari they borrowed a lot of money. The government says this money is used for important projects to help the country grow.

However, many people are worried because the debt is getting bigger and bigger. Experts think the debt will keep increasing until at least 2029.

Nigeria has problems that make it hard to pay back these loans.

The country does not make enough money from taxes and other sources. It relies heavily on oil, but oil prices can go up and down a lot. Also, corruption and poor management make it difficult to use money wisely.

The government promises that the loans are used for good projects, but people still worry. There is no clear plan to pay back the debt, and this can cause problems in the future. The debt can affect Nigeria’s economy and the well-being of its people.

To fix this, it needs to do several things. The government must spend money carefully and make sure it is used for projects that really help people.

It also needs to find more ways to make money, not just from oil. Being honest and transparent about how money is spent is very important too.

nigeria debt profile

It must also manage its debt better.

This could mean talking to lenders to get better loan terms or focusing on projects that have the biggest impact.

By doing these things, Nigeria can reduce its debt and build a stronger, more stable economy for the future.

Nigeria borrows money from both outside and inside the country.

From outside, Nigeria gets loans mainly from China and the World Bank.

China gives money for big projects like building railways and airports. The World Bank helps with things like schools and health care.

Inside Nigeria, the government borrows from banks and other financial institutions.

They use different types of bonds for this. Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) and Nigerian Treasury Bonds are two kinds of these loans. NTBs are short-term loans, while Nigerian Treasury Bonds are for a longer time.

The government also offers the Federal Government of Nigeria Savings Bond (FGNSB) for citizens to buy.

There are also Sukuk Bonds, which follow Islamic rules.

These bonds do not charge interest but share profits instead.

Domestic loans usually have lower interest rates than foreign loans, which makes them cheaper for the government.

Nigeria uses all these sources to get the money it needs for projects and development.

However, managing all this borrowing is hard.

The country needs to be careful to avoid having too much debt. This is important for Nigeria’s future financial health and stability.

Loan History

The country has been borrowing money since before it gained independence. After independence, the debt problem got worse.

By 1991, Nigeria’s debt was very high, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 75%. This happened because of a plan called the Nigerian Structural Adjustment Program, which was meant to fix the economy but made things worse due to bad management and corruption.

From 2015 to 2022, Nigeria’s debt grew a lot, going over 150 trillion naira (around $100 billion). During these years, the debt more than doubled.

The government kept borrowing money to pay for projects and budget gaps, but often the borrowed money was not used well.

Corruption and bad governance meant that a lot of the money ended up in the pockets of corrupt leaders instead of being used to help the country.

Corruption and bad governance have been major reasons for Nigeria’s debt problems. Many leaders have misused borrowed money, and there is little accountability.

This has slowed down economic growth and made it hard for Nigeria to develop properly. Because of this, Nigeria keeps needing to borrow more money, creating a cycle of debt.

Even though there have been efforts to reduce and restructure the debt, Nigeria still struggles with high debt levels.

The growing debt has made it hard for the country to invest in important areas like health and education. It also means that a lot of money has to go towards paying off the debt instead of improving the economy.

In summary, Nigeria’s history of borrowing is marked by poor use of loans due to corruption and mismanagement.

For future loans to help the country grow, Nigeria needs better governance and more transparency in how money is managed.

Loan records

As of May 2024, it’s  debt is 148 trillion naira, which is about 103 billion dollars. During President Muhammadu Buhari’s time in office, the country’s debt more than doubled. Each year, the government took loans to help pay for the budget.

Lagos State has the highest debt among the states, owing $1.26 billion. Overall, it  owes more than $10 billion to China.

This large debt is due to loans for building infrastructure and other projects. Nigeria also has over $14 billion in loans from the World Bank, which is more than 20 trillion naira.

Only one president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, did not take on more loans during his time in office. He managed the country’s resources and debts without borrowing more money, which was different from other presidents.

Many people are worried about Nigeria’s growing debt. They say that borrowing so much money, especially under Buhari, has not led to enough economic growth or better living conditions for Nigerians.

Instead, a big part of the country’s budget now goes to paying back these loans. This means less money is available for important areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

It  needs to handle its money and loans carefully. The government should make sure that any borrowed money is used wisely to help the country grow in a sustainable way.

Conclusion

Nigeria debt profile is at $103 Billion (N148 trillion in naira) Nigeria needs to handle its money and loans carefully. The government should make sure that any borrowed money is used wisely

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