Olanrewaju

Today, I participated in the APC Presidential Direct Primary at my ward in Ikoyi, Lagos, alongside my dear wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON. Democracy is not sustained by noise, speculation, or borrowed platforms. It is sustained by citizens who show up, party members who believe, institutions that endure, the grassroots, and a political family rooted in the people. The APC remains focused, organised and deeply grounded across Nigeria. Others may gather around grievance. We gather around structure, service, and the work of nation-building. Together, we will continue to renew hope, strengthen our democracy, and build a stronger Nigeria for all. Bola Ahmed Tinubu President Federal Republic of Nigeria

Tinubu wins APC presidential primary in Lagos ward

Debt Servicing, Borrowing, and Nigeria’s Fiscal Priorities During his recent foreign tour, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stated that Nigeria will spend about $11.6 billion on debt servicing, a figure that should concern anyone interested in the country’s economic future and long-term development. There is nothing inherently wrong with borrowing when it is guided by prudence and directed toward productive investment. Countries such as Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Indonesia are all heavily indebted, yet their borrowings are largely channelled into education, healthcare, infrastructure, and innovation - sectors that generate long-term economic returns and sustain repayment capacity. As a result, despite high debt levels, their obligations remain more manageable because they are tied to measurable productivity. Nigeria’s situation, however, is markedly different. A huge proportion of past borrowing has been directed toward consumption, with limited visible or sustainable developmental outcomes to justify the scale of indebtedness. It is also important to note that a huge portion of the debt currently being serviced was accumulated under the Tinubu administration itself, while borrowing has continued at a significant pace. The administration’s recent external borrowing alone includes about $6 billion (from First Abu Dhabi Bank in the UAE—$5 billion, and UK Export Finance via Citibank London—$1 billion), a further $1.25 billion under consideration from the World Bank, and an additional $516 million arranged through Deutsche Bank, bringing the latest known external loan commitments to roughly $7.8 billion. In addition, domestic borrowing through monthly bond issuances continues to add to the overall debt stock. Against this backdrop, Nigeria’s 2026 budget shows that health is ₦2.46 trillion, education is ₦2.56 trillion, and poverty alleviation is ₦865 billion, giving a combined total of about ₦5.885 trillion for these three critical sectors. By comparison, debt servicing at about $11.6 billion (approximately ₦17–₦18 trillion, depending on exchange rate assumptions) is almost three times higher than the total allocation to health, education, and social protection combined. This imbalance highlights a troubling fiscal reality in which debt obligations increasingly crowd out investment in human capital and poverty reduction. Moreover, even within the limited allocations to these sectors, funds may not be fully released, and a significant portion of what is eventually released could be misappropriated. Ultimately, the central issue is not borrowing itself, but whether borrowed funds are being converted into measurable productivity, inclusive growth, and improved living standards. Without this, debt servicing shifts from being a temporary fiscal obligation to a long-term structural burden that constrains development and deepens economic vulnerability. A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

You can’t ask for development without paying tax – President Tinubu

Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum Presidential Panel yesterday evening in Kigali, I re-emphasised that Africa must put Africa first whilst creating opportunities for intra-Africa collaboration between our countries. Our continent cannot build scale by looking outward first. We must invest in one another, trade more with one another, build the corridors that connect our markets, ensure our innovative youthful population get the support they need, and give African businesses the confidence to expand across African borders. Nigeria’s reforms are not only about fixing yesterday. They are about preparing our economy to lead in the Africa of tomorrow. With AfCFTA, digital trade, shared infrastructure, stronger logistics, commodities exchange, and deeper private sector partnerships, we can turn Africa’s population and resources into real continental prosperity. The global risk and financial architecture must also give Africa a fair deal that recognises our local nuances and contexts. I thank my brother, President Paul Kagame, for his warm hospitality and for Rwanda’s continued leadership in showing what discipline, clarity and execution can do for development. Nigeria will continue to work with Rwanda and other African partners to build a continent that produces more, trades more, connects better, and competes with greater confidence in the world. Africa’s future will not be handed to us. We must build it, own it, and defend it together. ~ Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR