Nigeria's external debt now stands at $145.015 billion, according to the World Bank, marking a 6.6 percent rise in 2025 alone.
Zoom out and the picture gets sharper. That figure represents a 74.3 percent jump from the $83.21 billion recorded in 2015, meaning the country's external debt has nearly doubled over the past decade.
The World Bank figures do not spell out what is driving the latest climb, but the trend has been consistent enough that economists and everyday Nigerians alike are paying close attention. With the naira still finding its footing and the cost of living pressing hard on households, questions about where this debt trajectory ends are only getting louder.
Originally published by Premium Times.