Nigeria’s total public debt has risen to ₦159.28 trillion as of December 31, 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Debt Management Office (DMO), highlighting the country’s growing fiscal pressures, Peak Newspaper reports
The data shows that the debt stock increased from ₦153.29 trillion recorded at the end of September 2025, reflecting a quarterly rise of ₦5.98 trillion, driven by both domestic and external borrowings.
Analysts note that when the total debt is spread across Nigeria’s population, it translates to a significant per capita burden, with estimates in some reports suggesting that each Nigerian effectively carries a debt of about ₦724,000.
Further breakdown of the figures indicates that domestic debt remains the largest component of the country’s obligations, accounting for over 53 per cent of the total, while external debt makes up the remaining portion.
Year-on-year, the nation’s debt rose by ₦14.61 trillion from ₦144.67 trillion recorded in December 2024, underscoring continued reliance on borrowing to finance budget deficits and public expenditure.
Economic experts have raised concerns over the rising debt profile, warning that increasing debt servicing obligations could limit government spending on critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare and education.
