Kogi Stakeholders Demand Debt Relief for Health, Education

On Tuesday, stakeholders in Kogi State convened during the Freedom from Debt campaign organized by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria in Sarkin Noma community, Lokoja. They warned that Africa's growing sovereign debt burden is restricting access to essential services like healthcare and education.

Community leaders, youth representatives, traditional rulers, and civil society advocates urged international financial institutions to adopt fairer lending policies and suspend debt repayments for countries affected by pandemics and natural disasters. Mr.

Nasiru Illiyasu called for the implementation of the Borrowers’ Forum proposed at the Seville Financing for Development Summit. Youth leader Idris Yahaya advocated for mandatory pauses on debt servicing during health and climate emergencies.

Asimau Abdulmalik proposed a one percent Artificial Intelligence Solidarity Levy to support debt relief initiatives. Ambassador Idris Muraina emphasized the need for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to ease debt obligations, while Mr.

Ibrahim Obansa pledged media support for the campaign. Participants stressed that debt relief must be accompanied by greater transparency and accountability in resource management.