Atiku Demands Debt Reconciliation and Apology from Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu’s government to reconcile Nigeria’s rising public debt and explain borrowing and debt-service charges, while urging Tinubu and his party to apologize for economic hardship he attributes to their policies. Debt Management Office figures cited in the reports put public debt at N166.79 trillion on June 30, 2026, up from N49.85 trillion in March 2023. Atiku’s demands were conveyed in statements by Phrank Shaibu, communications director for the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council. Atiku said the government should distinguish inherited obligations from the naira impact of exchange-rate movements and new borrowing since Tinubu took office. He also sought an account of Ways and Means advances that were securitized and incorporated into the debt stock, and details of repayments and outstanding balances. The reported June debt total comprised N91.59 trillion in domestic debt and N75.20 trillion in external debt, converted at an official rate of N1,379.18 per dollar. The DMO also put Federal Government Treasury Bills outstanding at N19.48 trillion at the end of June.