Nigeria’s Public Debt Soars to ₦159.3 Trn – Every Citizen Owes ₦724,000

Nigeria’s total public debt reached ₦159.28 trillion by December 31, 2025, according to the Debt Management Office. With a population of about 220 million, this translates into an average burden of roughly ₦724,000 per person. Domestic borrowing accounts for 53.3% of the debt, rising to ₦84.85 trillion. External obligations stand at ₦74.43 trillion. Quarter-on-quarter, the debt grew by ₦5.98 trillion, and year-on-year by ₦14.61 trillion, driven largely by funding gaps and stopgap financing needs. Analysts warn that higher servicing costs will force the government to raise taxes and divert revenue from public services. Projections from the Central Bank of Nigeria suggest the debt-to-GDP ratio could hit 34.68% by end-2026. Experts caution that unborn generations will also shoulder this liability unless borrowing patterns change.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.