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Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh - Politics - Nairaland

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Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by mrmayormedia(op):
2nd August, 2025

A widely circulated claim on social media and top media platforms suggests that President Tinubu's administration has borrowed over ₦63 trillion as of now or ₦56.6 trillion as of December 2024 in less than two years. This is a complete misconception. While Nigeria's total public debt has risen significantly from ₦87.38 trillion in June 2023 (one month after former President Buhari left office) to ₦149.39 trillion in March 2025, this increase is primarily driven by the naira-to-dollar exchange rate, as a result of the floating of naira, not solely from new loans.

For clarity sake, let us examine the debt figures for June 2023 and March 2025, factoring in the exchange rate changes.

Nigeria's Total Public Debt Portfolio as of June 2023 (Source: DMO)

Exchange Rate: US$1 = ₦770.38
External Debt: US$43.16 billion = ₦33.25 trillion
Domestic Debt: ₦54.13 trillion
Total Public Debt: ₦87.38 trillion

Nigeria's Total Public Debt Portfo[/b]lio as of March 2025 (Source: DMO)

Exchange Rate: US$1 = ₦1,536
External Debt: US$45.98 billion = ₦70.63 trillion
Domestic Debt: ₦78.76 trillion
Total Public Debt: ₦149.39 trillion

[b]How Did the Debt Increase from ₦87.38 Trillion to ₦149.39 Trillion?

The increase in Nigeria's public debt from June 2023 to March 2025 can be attributed to two main factors: the revaluation of existing external debt due to the naira's devaluation and new debt stock under the Tinubu administration.

1. Impact of Exchange Rate Devaluation

The external debt of US$43.16 billion as of June 2023, when revalued at the March 2025 exchange rate of ₦1,536 per US dollar, amounts to ₦66.29 trillion. This represents an increase of ₦33.04 trillion for the same debt stock due solely to the exchange rate change.

2. New Debt Under the Tinubu Administration

External Debt Increase: From US43.16 billion in June 2023 to US45.98 billion in March 2025, an increase of US$2.82 billion. At the March 2025 exchange rate, this equals ₦4.33 trillion.

Domestic Debt Increase: From ₦54.13 trillion in June 2023 to ₦78.76 trillion in March 2025, an increase of ₦24.63 trillion.

Tinubu's Total New Debt: ₦4.33 trillion (external) + ₦24.63 trillion (domestic) = ₦28.96 trillion.

Breakdown of Total Debt in March 2025

Revalued Debt from Previous Administrations: ₦66.29 trillion /US$43.16 billion (external) + ₦54.13 trillion (domestic) = ₦120.42 trillion

New Debt Under Tinubu Administration: ₦28.96 trillion

Total Public Debt: ₦120.42 trillion + ₦28.96 trillion = ₦149.38 trillion

The increase in Nigeria's public debt between June 2023 and March 2025 results from the naira's devaluation, which inflated the naira value of existing external debt. In reality, the total debt in U.S. dollars decreased, from US113.42 billion in June 2023 to US97.24 billion in March 2025. This shows that while the naira figures have increased tremendously, the actual foreign currency debt burden has been reduced.

Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by helinues: 2:35pm On Aug 02, 2025
Just wait for some people to attack the writer instead of disputing what he wrote
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by Nobody: 2:35pm On Aug 02, 2025
Una go explain explain explain. Una go explain tire.Una don turn emergency mathematicians and statisticians. Shebi they said statistics were not important 😂😂

By the way, who will pay the debt?
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by Tajbol4splend(m): 2:36pm On Aug 02, 2025
The reason why more people become dumber day by day is because they choose wrong source for information and they get goosebumps from fake news, when I tell you Nigerians go to school but uneducated, you will argue
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by Nobody: 2:40pm On Aug 02, 2025
Tajbol4splend:
The reason why more people become dumber day by day is because they choose wrong source for information
Yes, any information from people who have supported incompetence and failure for as much as 10 years should be carefully scrutinized. How can you trust the judgment of someone who has supported failure for 10 years? Someone who is not even smart enough to know that he is destroying not only his own future, but also that of his children, born or unborn. All these debts will be repaid by the younger generation
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by Softmirror:
The kind of criticism Tinubu has been getting has really been helping to project his administration in a very positive light every time the administration counters with hard facts.
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by Shawarmagirl: 3:06pm On Aug 02, 2025
helinues:
Just wait for some people to attack the writer instead of disputing what he wrote
You go explain tire. Na statistics we go chop?
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by ivandragon: 3:06pm On Aug 02, 2025
Just being clever by half.

Who wrecked the economy to the extent that the exchange rate became N1,600 to $1?

The same bat that condemned exchange rate at N217 as being too high is suddenly grandstanding on a exchange rate of N1,600... nonsense.

It is ridiculous how bat and his supporters are trying to explain thier incompetence. The increased exchange rate has a significant negative impact on the masses, especially given government's corruption driven policies.
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by mrmayormedia(op): 4:25pm On Aug 02, 2025
ivandragon:
Just being clever by half.

Who wrecked the economy to the extent that the exchange rate became N1,600 to $1?

The same bat that condemned exchange rate at N217 as being too high is suddenly grandstanding on a exchange rate of N1,600... nonsense.

It is ridiculous how bat and his supporters are trying to explain thier incompetence. The increased exchange rate has a significant negative impact on the masses, especially given government's corruption driven policies.
Tinubu did not take much loan as widely claimed online. Stop the story
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by Typing: 4:38pm On Aug 02, 2025
More lies from Tinubu's paid agents. Tinubu has borrowed more money than the previous Presidents put together. No amount of propaganda from Tinubu's men will change that fact. Nigerians are wiser now.

Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by lionshare: 5:48pm On Aug 02, 2025
Great work @mrmayormedia You overlooked the Ways and Means debt created through money printing by the previous administration, which has now been added to the domestic debt stock.
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by rinzaugustine: 5:56pm On Aug 02, 2025
Una go explain statistics to hungry Nigerians tire and no result
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by rinzaugustine: 6:00pm On Aug 02, 2025
Trying to defend the worst president in Nigerian history is like trying to use spoon to fill Atlantic Ocean
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by ivandragon: 6:22pm On Aug 02, 2025
mrmayormedia:
Tinubu did not take much loan as widely claimed online. Stop the story
Stop what story?

Story of his grand incompetence that is amplified by kleptomaniac booster rockets?

Keep deceiving yourself.
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by anonimi: 12:24am On Aug 06, 2025
Softmirror:
The kind of criticism Tinubu has been getting has really been helping to project his administration in a very positive light every time the administration counters with hard facts.
Did ebilokan borrow more money externally AND internally according to the OP’s analysis despite saving $84 billion from subsidy removal that has hiked petrol price and hyperinflation instead of crashing them as he promised?

ManirBK:
Aug 28, 2023

The Federal Government says it has no intention to borrow from any local or foreign organisation with its removal of subsidy on petrol and exchange rate harmonisation.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Chief Wale Edun, revealed this at the end of the inaugural Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the benefit of the subsidy removal would be ploughed back into various sectors aimed at boosting government revenue and improving the business environment for local and foreign investment.

Edun said that with the increased revenue from subsidy removal, various palliatives have been made available to cushion its effect on a short, medium and long-term basis.

He reiterated the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s desire to bring back the economy from the wood it has found itself over time.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/fg-ends-borrowing-finance-minister/amp/
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by anonimi: 12:32am On Aug 06, 2025
mrmayormedia:
Tinubu did not take much loan as widely claimed online.

Stop the story
Your own OP story says that he took more loans both externally and internally. So what else is there to explain and ṣàlàyé?

Anyway, there is no need to stress yourself since ebilokan himself has said that he has made everything worse than the cluelessly expired northerner he made president. The APC extreme poverty olodo ebilokan used to make his fellow southerner Jonathan a one term president.

anonimi:
May 1, 2025

May Day: Hunger, unemployment, insecurity real— Tinubu

According to him: “The theme demands our collective attention and serves as a stark reminder of the need to create an environment where every worker feels safe, valued, and empowered to contribute to the growth and prosperity of our nation. As your President, I assure you that this administration is committed to creating such an environment for the common good.”

On the economic hardship, he noted that while it is a global phenomenon, its effects on Nigerians are particularly severe.

Tinubu said: “I am aware of the peculiarities of the economic hardship Nigerians face—rising living costs, hunger, insecurity, unemployment, and the loss of livelihoods. These challenges are real and demand definitive solutions, which I am poised to address as your President.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/05/may-day-hunger-unemployment-insecurity-real-tinubu/
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by anonimi: 12:36am On Aug 06, 2025
Softmirror:
The kind of criticism Tinubu has been getting has really been helping to project his administration in a very positive light every time the administration counters with hard facts.
SoftMisinformer, what is the positive light for someone who has completely and totally failed to do any of the things he promised?

Has he crashed petrol price below the January 2023 level huh

anonimi:
World Bank offers Nigeria forex rate advice, as Tinubu eyes N200/Dollar rate

April 23, 2023

The President-elect said he would work with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to *bring down the exchange rate to N200 in his first term.*

“My administration will collaborate with the Central Bank to harmonize the fiscal and monetary policy to achieve immediate stabilization of the value of the naira against the US dollars and other currencies and in the short term, strengthen the naira by boosting the supply of foreign currency and moderating demand.

“The short-term goal is to achieve a naira/dollar rate of 300 naira/US$ and gradually achieve a less than 200 naira rate over the next four years, Tinubu stated.

https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/world-bank-offers-nigeria-forex-rate-advice-as-tinubu-eyes-n200-dollar-rate/?amp
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by UncleJJ(m): 7:19am On Aug 06, 2025
helinues:
Just wait for some people to attack the writer instead of disputing what he wrote
From the numbers he provided from DMO.

Exchange Rate: US$1 = ₦770.38
External Debt: US$43.16 billion = ₦33.25 trillion
Domestic Debt: ₦54.13 trillion
Total Public Debt: ₦87.38 trillion

Nigeria's Total Public Debt Portfolio as of March 2025 (Source: DMO)

Exchange Rate: US$1 = ₦1,536
External Debt: US$45.98 billion = ₦70.63 trillion
Domestic Debt: ₦78.76 trillion
Total Public Debt: ₦149.39 trillion


Domestic debt is not an issue. The government can perform economic abracadabra, and it will soften. Devaluing the Naira is one of such methods available, tax relief, tax holidays, special discounts, barter. The government has infinite options to manage domestic debt.

The problem is external debt. In the past domestic debt exceeded external debt; which is excellent from an accounting perspective. The exchange rate 750 compared to todays rate 1500 was also good.

Today external debt, equals domestic debt. The government no has no better option i.e lesser evil. It does not matter what the government does; its in trouble. You can see that from CBN's bank recapitalization innuedo. The need more money to fund domestic debt, recapitalization will pool funds from investors, and give them some breathing space.

But, we still have a foreign debt problem. How does Nigeria intend to pay of its foreign debt. Well it cant! And it does not matter (as long as the oil keeps flowing), although not the way US foreign debt does not matter because America has a excellent Army wink. Nigeria needs to service the external debt, and keep domestic debt low.

We are in a worse condition than Buhari left us. And fuel prices will not go down. If it does it means the government will make less money from their ultimate cash cow.

Foundational Thinking :
Adam Smith, A wealth of Nations
A. A Lawal, Politics of Revenue Allocation in Nigeria
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by mrmayormedia(op): 8:32am On Aug 06, 2025
anonimi:
Your own OP story says that he took more loans both externally and internally. So what else is there to explain and ṣàlàyé?

Anyway, there is no need to stress yourself since ebilokan himself has said that he has made everything worse than the cluelessly expired northerner he made president. The APC extreme poverty olodo ebilokan used to make his fellow southerner Jonathan a one term president.
Why are you the opposite of wise.. Tinubu external debt rose from US43.16 billion in June 2023 to US45.98 billion in March 2025, an increase of US$2.82 billion. At the March 2025 exchange rate, this equals ₦4.33 trillion.

Domestic Debt Increase from ₦54.13 trillion in June 2023 to ₦78.76 trillion in March 2025, an increase of ₦24.63 trillion
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by seunowa(f): 8:54am On Aug 06, 2025
Shawarmagirl:
You go explain tire. Na statistics we go chop?
I am delighted that you have nothing reasonable to say to debunk what was stated but to sound incoherent as usual.....
Re: Clarifying Nigeria's Debt Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu By Amodu Okoh by anonimi: 9:30am On Aug 06, 2025
mrmayormedia:
Why are you the opposite of wise.. Tinubu external debt rose from US43.16 billion in June 2023 to US45.98 billion in March 2025, an increase of US$2.82 billion. At the March 2025 exchange rate, this equals ₦4.33 trillion.

Domestic Debt Increase from ₦54.13 trillion in June 2023 to ₦78.76 trillion in March 2025, an increase of ₦24.63 trillion
So what are you labouring in vain to ṣàlàyé when you have acknowledged that ebilokan took more external and internal loans than previous presidents, despite the $84 billion saved from removing subsidy to choke off our lives with hyperinflation?

Your next story should be about the 40 roads built with the subsidy savings.

TimeManager:
The Federal Government has revealed that the elimination of the petrol subsidy under President Bola Tinubu has resulted in savings of over $84 billion, which are now being channelled into the construction and rehabilitation of 40 key road projects across the country over the past two years.

This was disclosed in a policy brief released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), titled “Two Years Later: Key Benefits of Subsidy Removal,” and made available to journalists over the weekend in Abuja.

The report, which reviewed the outcomes of the subsidy removal since May 29, 2023, noted that the policy averted a looming economic crisis.

It also enabled the Tinubu administration to clear long-standing financial liabilities, increase capital investments, and support the financial stability of state governments.

https://businessday.ng/news/article/84bn-saved-from-petrol-subsidy-now-financing-40-key-roads-report/?amp
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