Nigeria recorded a sharp increase in its debt service in the fourth quarter of 2025, with 2.28 trillion nairas (1.5 billion USD) for domestic debt and 1.8 billion USD for external debt, according to the latest data from the Debt Management Office, DMO.
The domestic debt service amounted to 2.28 trillion nairas (1.5 billion USD), with the majority coming from interest payments at 2.17 trillion nairas (1.43 billion USD), accounting for over 95% of the total. Principal repayments remained limited at 108.9 billion nairas (72 million USD).
State bonds in naira accounted for the majority of interest payments, at 1.32 trillion nairas (870 million USD), followed by Treasury bills at 742.3 billion nairas (490 million USD). Sukuk reached 101 billion nairas (67 million USD), while green and savings bonds remained marginal.
In the quarter, December saw the highest level of interest payments, at 909.6 billion nairas (600 million USD), compared to 660.5 billion in October and 603.4 billion in November.
External debt stood at 1.8 billion USD for the period. Commercial debt dominated with 1.39 billion USD, of which 1.38 billion USD was related to eurobonds.
Multilateral creditors, including the International Development Association (192.7 million USD) and the African Development Bank (93.5 million USD), represented a smaller share. Bilateral loans totaled 60.3 million USD.
This structure confirms the country’s strong reliance on market financing, which is generally more expensive than concessional loans.
Finance Minister Wale Edun stated that the government does not plan to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund, while continuing with ongoing economic reforms.
