Nigeria’s total public debt has climbed to ₦159.28 trillion as of December 31, 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Debt Management Office.
The new data shows an increase from ₦153.29 trillion recorded at the end of September 2025, representing a quarter-on-quarter rise of ₦5.98 trillion or 3.9 percent.
On a year-on-year basis, the country’s debt grew significantly from ₦144.67 trillion in December 2024 to the current figure, marking an increase of ₦14.61 trillion or 10.1 percent. In dollar terms, the debt rose from 94.23 billion dollars to 110.97 billion dollars within the same period.
Domestic debt remained the largest component of Nigeria’s debt profile, rising to ₦84.85 trillion in December 2025 from ₦81.82 trillion in September. This represents over half of the total debt stock, highlighting continued reliance on local borrowing.
The Federal Government accounted for the bulk of domestic debt at ₦80.49 trillion, while states and the Federal Capital Territory made up ₦4.36 trillion.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s external debt stood at ₦74.43 trillion, reflecting a steady increase from previous quarters. The Federal Government also dominated this segment, accounting for ₦66.27 trillion, while states and the FCT contributed ₦8.16 trillion.
Despite the overall rise in debt, the structure of the country’s debt portfolio remained relatively stable, with domestic debt accounting for about 53 percent and external debt making up roughly 47 percent.
The DMO noted that the figures are provisional and were calculated using the official exchange rates provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
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