Lagos’s domestic debt is 7.5% (₦72.6 billion) higher than the South South’s

Key Takeaways

  • The South-West recorded the highest domestic debt stock of approximately ₦1.43 trillion, largely powered by Lagos State’s ₦1.04 trillion debt.
  • The South-South ranks second with ₦968 billion, led by Rivers State’s ₦364.4 billion, reflecting major infrastructure and fiscal commitments.
  • The North-Central (₦520 billion) and North-East (₦450 billion) show moderate borrowing compared to their southern counterparts.
  • The North-West records the smallest combined debt stock at ₦223 billion, indicating a relatively conservative borrowing posture.

Nigeria’s domestic debt landscape in Q2 2025 shows a clear regional divide, with southern zones accounting for a greater share of subnational obligations. The South-West leads the pack, reaching roughly ₦1.43 trillion. The figure is propelled by Lagos State’s ₦1.04 trillion debt, more than the combined total of some entire zones. The South-South follows with ₦968 billion, anchored by Rivers State’s ₦364.4 billion, while the North-Central and North-East reached  ₦520 billion and ₦450 billion respectively. The North-West remains the least indebted at ₦223 billion, underscoring differences in fiscal capacity and revenue generation across regions.

Source:

Debt Management Office

Period:

Q2 2025
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Enugu - South-East’s top domestic debtor - owes more than Imo, Abia, and Anambra combined
  • Enugu State holds the highest domestic debt in the South-East at ₦180.5 billion.
  • Imo ranks second with ₦97.9 billion, about 54% lower than Enugu’s figure.
  • At ₦15.8 billion, Ebonyi remains the least indebted in the region, maintaining a conservative borrowing stance.
  • Combined, the five South-East states (Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi) owe roughly ₦371 billion domestically as of Q2 2025.
Rivers State's domestic debt is 3.5% (₦12.4b) more than the combined debt of Delta and Cross River
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  • Rivers’ ₦364.4 billion domestic debt is almost six times Bayelsa’s total, highlighting major fiscal disparities.
  • Delta (₦204.7 billion) and Cross River (₦147.3 billion) remain among the region’s more indebted states
  • Regional debt approaches ₦1 trillion: The six South-South states collectively hold an estimated ₦968 billion in domestic debt as of Q2 2025.
Jigawa recorded the lowest domestic debt in North-West Nigeria at ₦852 million in Q2 2025
  • The seven North-Western states collectively owed about ₦223.4 billion in domestic debt as of Q2 2025, according to DMO data.
  • Kano State ranked highest with ₦56.9 billion, accounting for roughly 25% of the zone’s total debt.
  • Jigawa remains the least indebted in the region and in the entire country, with only ₦852 million.
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Kogi and Nasarawa post lowest domestic debt in North Central Nigeria at ₦18.8 billion and ₦23.9 billion, respectively
  • The six North Central states collectively hold ₦449.4 billion in domestic debt as of Q2 2025, according to DMO data.
  • Kogi and Nasarawa lead in fiscal control with ₦18.8 billion and ₦23.9 billion, respectively
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  • The debt gap between Kogi (lowest) and Niger (highest) stands at over ₦123 billion, highlighting stark differences in fiscal management and borrowing capacity across the zone.
Lagos accounts for over 70% of South-West Nigeria’s domestic debt, hitting ₦1.04 trillion in mid-2025
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  • Lagos’s debt is six times larger than that of Ogun (₦162.9 billion), the region’s next most indebted state.
  • At ₦10.6 billion, Ondo maintains the lowest domestic debt profile in the region, reflecting relatively modest borrowing.
  • The combined domestic debt of the six South-West states (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo) stood at ₦1.43 trillion as of Q2 2025.
Nigeria’s public debt rises to $99.7 billion (₦152.4 trillion) as of June 2025
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  • The increase underscores ongoing domestic financing challenges and vulnerability to exchange-rate fluctuations.
  • The growth in dollar terms points to renewed external borrowing as the government manages debt obligations post-2024 volatility.
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