Economy
SERAP Advises Buhari to Suspend Fresh Borrowing
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend fresh borrowing for now for the sake of Nigerians.
The group, in an open letter, said the immediate moratorium on borrowing should be obeyed by the federal government and the 36 states to address a systemic debt crisis, prevent retrogressive economic measures, and the disproportionately negative impact of unsustainable debt on Nigerians.
In the open letter dated December 18, 2021, and signed by SERAP deputy director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation explained that, “A moratorium on borrowing would create a temporary debt standstill, and free up fiscal space for investment in Nigerians’ needs, as well as ensure sustainable economic and social recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The request followed the recent approval by the National Assembly of President Buhari’s request for a $5.8 billion loan and grant of $10 million.
Previous approvals in 2021 alone included $8.3 billion; €490 million, and $6.1 billion. The foreign debt stock of the federal government, 36 states, and Federal Capital Territory reportedly stands at $38 billion.
SERAP warned that, “Without a moratorium on borrowing, your government and many of the 36 states may be caught in a process-driven mostly by creditors’ needs. This will result in an exorbitant social cost for the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of the population.”
“Long-term unsustainable debt can be a barrier to the government’s ability to mobilize resources for human rights and may lead to taxes and user fees that impact negatively on vulnerable and marginalised Nigerians,” pointed out.
The group expressed concerns that “the lack of transparency and accountability in the spending of the loans so far obtained, and opacity around the terms and conditions, including repayment details of these loans” could plunge the nation into crisis.
“While the National Assembly has asked for these details in future loan requests, it ought to have seen and assessed the terms and conditions of these loans before approving them, in line with its oversight responsibility under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended].
“If not urgently addressed, the escalating borrowing and looming debt crisis would cripple the ability of both the federal government and the 36 states to deliver essential public services such as quality healthcare, education, and clean water to the most vulnerable and marginalised sectors of the population,” it added.
“Several of the 36 states are also facing a debt crisis and vicious debt cycles. According to the Debt Management Office, the foreign debt stock of the Federal Government, 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory presently stands at $37.9 billion.
“The loans from China alone amount to $3.59 billion. According to the UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Nigeria faces debt service relative to tax revenues that exceed 20 per cent, with escalating social tensions linked to poverty and inequality.
“The growing level of borrowing by your government and the 36 states is clearly a human rights issue because when the entire country is burdened by unsustainable debts, there will be little money left to ensure access of poor and vulnerable Nigerians to basic public services,” it added.
SERAP advised the government “to conduct a human rights assessment of the borrowing by governments since 1999 to address the dire consequences of unsustainable debts on people and communities across the country and to ensure that borrowing at all levels of government considers the human rights impacts.
“Any such assessment should be conducted in harmony with existing safeguards and mechanisms in order to contribute to informed decision-making and to complement findings from a human rights perspective.”
It explained that, “A human rights impact analysis should serve to ascertain the debts that can be repaid, and the resources necessary to ensure compliance with the obligation of using the maximum available resources for the protection and fulfilment of human rights.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended zero allocation for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), among others, in the 2026 budget for allegedly failing to account for public funds appropriated to them.
The committee, at an investigative hearing, accused the affected ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of shunning invitations to respond to audit queries contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s annual reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The affected MDAs include the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Others are Federal University of Gashua; Federal Polytechnic, Ede; Federal Polytechnic, Offa; Federal Medical Centre, Owerri; Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi; Federal Medical Centre, Bida; Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi; Federal Medical Centre, Katsina; Federal Government College, Kwali; Federal Government Boys’ College, Garki, Abuja; Federal Government College, Rubochi; Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri; Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria; and the FCT Secondary Education Board.
The PAC chairman, Mr Bamidele Salam, while speaking on the decision of the committee to recommend a zero budget for the defaulting MDAs, stated that the National Assembly should not continue to appropriate public funds to institutions that disregard accountability mechanisms.
“Public funds are held in trust for the Nigerian people. Any agency that fails to account for previous allocations, refuses to submit audited accounts, or ignores legislative summons cannot, in good conscience, expect fresh budgetary provisions. Accountability is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation,” he said.
The panel maintained that its recommendation for a zero budget for the affected MDAs is aimed at restoring fiscal discipline and strengthening transparency across federal institutions and conforms with extant financial regulations and the oversight powers of the parliament.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have partnered to enlighten Nigerians on illegal investment schemes in Nigeria.
The director-general of SEC, Mr Emomotimi Agama, stated this during a meeting with his NOA counterpart, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, in Abuja on Thursday, according to a statement from SEC.
Mr Agama said the capital market is an available tool for national development, but beyond all that, there is a tendency for people to do the wrong things that will lead to the impoverishment of Nigerians.
According to him, these are not supposed to be, but many people fall victim due to a lack of knowledge. He stated that these schemes are springing up daily, and those involved are defrauding Nigerians, as people are always gullible because of the need to survive.
“As a management, we decided to move out to enlighten people; we cannot assume that people know, we need to go out for mass communication, hence this collaboration. It is only by co-operation that we can achieve the purpose of our existence,” he stated.
The SEC DG solicited the co-operation of the NOA to reach Nigerians because of its capacity and vast network of mass media, in a bid to ensure that the message reaches every nook and cranny of the country.
“This collaboration is important because it will go a long way in ensuring that Nigerians are no longer victims of these fraudulent schemes. We appreciate that you value this country, and we value the work that you do,” he added.
On his part, Mr Issa-Onilu commended the SEC for the capital market’s achievements in recent times, adding that the commission has not been celebrated enough.
“We commend you and thank you on behalf of the country, but most Nigerians are not aware of the opportunities in the capital market. An ignorant society will fall victim to many things that are avoidable. It is our responsibility to enlighten people to make the right decisions.
“We request that you provide information on what you do to enable us to propagate them. Our primary assignment is to serve all government institutions as the communications arm. We do a lot of enlightenment in places like the religious houses, motor parks, town halls, among others.”
Mr Issa-Onilu said the NOA engages in civic education to create the right values that will help most Nigerians be better citizens, saying that “many Nigerians are deficient in good behaviour. Both the Ponzi scheme promoters and those who patronise them are suffering from the wrong attitude and values.
“We have to encourage people to have the right attitude so they do not fall victim to Ponzi schemes. We have created a lot of platforms to interact with Nigerians.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited booked a Profit after Tax of N5.760 trillion after generating N60.517 trillion in revenue in 2025.
According to its monthly report published on Thursday, the sum of N14.706 trillion was remitted to statutory government agencies.
It said crude production dipped slightly in December, the last month of the year, from earlier months due to scheduled maintenance and several unplanned outages.
The report indicated that crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.54 million barrels per day in December 2025, while natural gas production stood at 6.914 billion standard cubic feet per day.
NNPC further disclosed that its retail outlets achieved 65 per cent product availability in December, while upstream pipelines recorded 100 per cent availability during the period.
On key infrastructure projects, the company stated that the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) pipeline project reached 91 per cent completion, while the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project also attained 91 per cent completion.
The report from the Nigerian state oil company noted that December production performance was affected by planned maintenance at the Stardeep-Agbami and Renaissance–Estuary Area facilities, as well as unplanned production outages.
In its previous monthly update, NNPC disclosed that revenue declined by 14.17 per cent in November 2025 to N4.358 trillion, down from N5.078 trillion recorded in October.
Despite the drop in revenue, profit after tax rose by 12.3 per cent to N502 billion in November, compared with N447 billion in October.
The report also showed that the company made statutory payments of N967 billion to the government in October, bringing total remittances between January and October to N12.117 trillion.
NNPC said all figures remain provisional pending final reconciliation with stakeholders.
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