Nigeria’s debt hits ₦134 trillion by mid-2024, driven by the effects of the currency's devaluation

Nigeria’s public debt decreased in dollar terms between June 2023 and June 2024. However, when converted to naira, it jumped to ₦134.3 trillion, largely due to currency devaluation. This sharp increase in debt could lead to tighter budgets, potentially affecting public services and everyday costs for Nigerians.

Source:

Debt Management Office

Period:

2013 - 2023
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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
  • Bayelsa holds the lowest debt with ₦65.9 billion.
  • 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.
  • Moderate debt spread: While Kano, Zamfara, and Sokoto carried the largest debt loads, the remaining states maintained relatively conservative borrowing patterns.
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
  • Both states record the lowest debt profiles in the region. Niger State’s ₦141.5 billion debt makes it the region’s most indebted, accounting for nearly one-third of the total.
  • 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
  • Lagos dominates regional debt with a domestic debt stock of ₦1.04 trillion, over 70% of the South-West’s total subnational debt.
  • 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
  • Nigeria’s public debt rose to $99.7 billion, up from $91.3 billion in June 2024, marking a return to growth after a dollar-value decline in 2024.
  • The debt in local currency climbed to ₦152.4 trillion, reflecting both borrowing and continued naira depreciation.
  • 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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