Nigeria's External Debt Hits $51.86 Billion by December 2025

As of December 2025, Nigeria's total external debt reached $51.86 billion, representing a 13.27% increase from $45.78 billion at the end of 2024. This increase reflects a quarter-on-quarter rise of 7.0%, from $48.46 billion recorded in September 2025.

The data, sourced from the Debt Management Office (DMO) and reviewed by Nairametrics Research, indicates that Nigeria's debt exposure is significantly concentrated among a few major creditors, including Eurobond investors and multilateral institutions. Notably, the African Development Bank (AfDB) saw its loan amount rise to $2.18 billion in December 2025, up from $2.10 billion in December 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.70% and a quarterly increase of 1.20%.

The AfDB remains a key financier for various projects in transport, energy, agriculture, and industry across Africa, including Nigeria's infrastructure modernization agenda.