$1.5bn fresh loan: Atiku reveals how much each Nigerian now owes as debt hits N166.79tn

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has revealed that each Nigerian now owes N716,822, as the country's total debt profile reached N166.79 trillion by June 2026. This figure was disclosed in a statement by Atiku's spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, on Monday. The news comes as the Nigerian government reportedly seeks a fresh N1.5 trillion loan from the World Bank.

According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), the total debt profile of Nigeria stood at N166.79 trillion at the end of June 2026. Atiku criticized President Tinubu's economic record, stating that the country's families are struggling to afford basic necessities, including food, fuel, and electricity. He emphasized that despite this hardship, the debt continues to grow.

Atiku highlighted that the country's public debt per capita has increased by 87% in just three years. In 2023, the debt per Nigerian was N383,442, but it has since risen to N716,822. He stated, "If Nigeria's public debt were divided among everyone, each person's share would be N716,822 today. Three years ago, it was N383,442. That is an 87 per cent increase." Atiku concluded by saying, "Tinubu has made today difficult and tomorrow more uncertain."