General News
AfDB Worries over Nigeria’s $67.7Bn Debt
African Development Bank (AfDB), has released its African Economic Outlook 2015, and cautioned against Nigeria’s rising public debt profile which it put at $67.7 billion as at December 2014.
AfDB’s figure is higher than the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President-elect recent estimate of $63 billion.
The AfDB said total public debt level, which represents a five per cent increase from end-2013, was driven largely by the 10 per cent rise in the domestic debts of the federal and state governments.
The rising domestic debt emanated from the challenging fiscal position resulting from dwindling oil revenues coupled with need to implement several reform initiatives at both national and sub-national levels of government.
The report, written by Barbara Barungi (Lead Economist) and Eric Ogunleye (macroeconomist consultant), both of the group’s Nigeria Country Office, warned that an unchecked rise in public debt, especially domestic debt, could have negative effects on the economy.
“Increased domestic public debt has a tendency to raise interest rates, resulting in crowding out of the private sector from the local credit market. Anecdotal evidence suggests that increased public domestic debt is the major driver of the high lending rate in the country coupled with high monetary policy rate. Federal Government bonds and Nigerian treasury bills are the dominant instruments in the country’s domestic debt, accounting for over 95 percent of total domestic debt stock”, the report noted.
Despite the rising trend in public debt, the report, however, said the solvency and liquidity indicators show that the country remains at a low risk of debt distress, given a low debt-to-GDP ratio of about 12.5 per cent with external debt as low as 1.7 percent of GDP and mostly through international financial institutions’ concessional windows.
“A few risks persist, however, that tend to make the outlook and prospects of the Nigerian debt profile somewhat worrisome. One of these is the rising trend in sub-national debt. Failure to check this may undermine the effectiveness of the debt-management strategy being pursued. It is hoped that efforts of the DMO to reconstruct the debt at the sub-national levels and establish debt-management departments in each state will improve the situation. It is hoped that the robust debt management framework of the DMO will guide borrowing and the mode of financing any actual increased spending. However, a strong political will to stay the course of public financial management reform and the implementation of a genuine debt-management strategy are critical for success,” it added.
However, the AfDB report said the nation’s economy has enjoyed sustained economic growth for a decade, with annual real GDP increasing by around seven percent; from 6.3 percent in 2014. The non-oil sector has been the main driver of growth, with services contributing about 57 percent, while manufacturing and agriculture, respectively contributed about nine per cent and 21 per cent.
The economy is thus diversifying and is becoming more services-oriented, in particular through retail and wholesale trade, real estate, information and communication.
The 2015 outlook projected a moderate growth of five percent, due to vulnerability to slow global economic recovery, oil-price volatility and global financial developments. The low oil price, it said, would lead to a sharp decline in fiscal revenues, but that the overall impact on non-oil sector GDP would be relatively muted.
“The sector is, thus, expected to remain the main driver of growth over the medium term and, in the light of the recent macroeconomic challenges, the government has adopted an adjustment strategy that hinges on tightening government spending and shoring up non-oil revenues to compensate for dwindling oil revenues.”
The analysts called on government to address security issues facing the country, especially insurgency in the northeast and other parts of the country which they said has negative implications for investment.
“Insurgency also may hamper the fight against poverty as well as increase crime. An increased number of both internally displaced persons and refugees in neighbouring Cameroon and Niger have created a grave humanitarian situation. However, the current regional coalition force against Boko Haram appears to be making headway in subduing the insurgency.
They added that overcoming geographical and socio-economic barriers is central to achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development, while addressing rural-urban differences to ensure more balanced development through job creation and societal transformation will be critical for Nigeria’s future.
“This will need to be done within all the six geopolitical zones, in addition to addressing inequalities across these zones. Though there have been several policy initiatives aimed at territorial development in Nigeria, limited success has been achieved in addressing the fundamental causes of unevenness. The problem often lies with a structure of governance that gives room for developmental policy implementation at the federal, state and local levels of governance but not at the regional level”.
MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, has retained the distribution rights to 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels following the signing of a new multi-year, multi-territory agreement between CANAL+ Group and Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a significant expansion of their long-standing partnership.
MultiChoice
The new deal, which spans several regions across Africa and Europe, covers the distribution of HBO Max as well as the renewal of selected Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels. It represents a major milestone in the companies’ international collaboration and strengthens content offerings across MultiChoice Group territories.
MultiChoice disclosed that this agreement builds on earlier partnerships concluded in Europe. “It builds on the landmark agreements concluded in France in 2024,including the renewal of the exclusive pay-TV window for Warner Bros. Pictures films just six months after their theatrical release in France and the integration of HBO Max within select CANAL+ group offers – as well as in Poland in 2025, with the renewal of the distribution agreement for 22 thematic channels (including TVN 24 and Eurosport) and 4 free-to-air channels (including TVN).”
Under the renewed arrangement, MultiChoice Group will continue to distribute 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across its territories, with some channels offered on an exclusive basis. CNN International and Cartoon Network will remain exclusive to South Africa while being distributed non-exclusively in other markets. Cartoon Network Porto will be exclusive in Angola and Mozambique and non-exclusive elsewhere. Other channels such as Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, TNT Africa, Travel, ID and Cartoonito will be offered on a non-exclusive basis.
According to the partners, the deal reinforces CANAL+ Group’s channel portfolio on the continent. “This agreement enables CANAL+ Group to strengthen its entertainment, kids, news, and documentary channel offerings in African markets.”
The agreement is also expected to improve access for CANAL+ Group subscribers to Warner Bros. Discovery’s premium content through HBO Max and selected channels, including globally recognised series and films, further extending the studio’s international reach while consolidating MultiChoice’s content offering in key markets.
Nigeria Police Force has suspended nationwide enforcement of its tinted glass permit policy, hours before its scheduled rollout, in compliance with a Delta State High Court order.
Tinted glass permit
The policy, set for January 2, 2026, aimed to curb vehicle-related crimes but faced legal challenge from a private citizen against the Inspector-General of Police, the force, and Delta Police Commissioner.
An ex parte injunction issued in December 2025 restrained enforcement pending suit determination, prompting the hold announced by spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin on January 1.
Police entered appearance, filed preliminary objections, and sought injunction vacation; hearing adjourned to January 20, 2026.
The Nigerian Bar Association condemned initial police plans as “executive recklessness,” accusing disregard for rule of law, while police insisted no permanent bar existed on statutory duties.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun reiterated adherence to law while prioritising public safety via intelligence-led strategies during proceedings.
Mr. Thompson Sunday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), has reaffirmed the Corporation’s strict compliance with fiscal and financial regulations, including the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007, noting that the NDIC has consistently remitted the required percentage of its earnings to the Federal Government.
Mr. Sunday made this known during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Takang, as part of NDIC’s ongoing engagement with key stakeholders following his formal assumption of office in July 2025.
According to him, NDIC takes financial accountability and transparency seriously, stressing that the Corporation complies fully with statutory remittance obligations, including the payment of 20 per cent of gross earnings or 80 per cent of net surplus to the Federal Government, as applicable. He added that NDIC also submits its financial statements ahead of statutory deadlines.
The NDIC MD/CE explained that this culture of compliance aligns with the Corporation’s role as a key institution within Nigeria’s financial safety-net, charged with protecting depositors and promoting confidence in the banking system. He emphasized that adherence to fiscal discipline remains central to NDIC’s credibility and effectiveness.
Mr. Sunday further disclosed that NDIC also complies with the Federal Government’s 50 per cent cost-to-income ratio policy, although he noted that the policy poses operational constraints. He explained that the deductions affect NDIC’s ability to build a strong Deposit Insurance Fund, which is needed to respond effectively to bank failures.
He stressed that international best practices under the Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance issued by the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) require deposit insurers to maintain adequate funds to reimburse depositors when banks fail without recourse to government, adding that the NDIC is seeking an exemption to strengthen its capacity in this regard.
Mr. Sunday described MOFI as a critical stakeholder, noting that the Federal Government, through MOFI, holds a 40 per cent equity stake in NDIC. He said sustained collaboration with MOFI is essential to ensuring that NDIC continues to meet its obligations to government while effectively safeguarding depositors’ funds.
In his remarks, Dr. Takang commended the NDIC for its exemplary collaborative spirit and acknowledged the Corporation’s compliance with fiscal regulations. He assured that MOFI would continue to engage the Federal Ministry of Finance on NDIC’s behalf, noting that a strong NDIC is vital to sustaining confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.
Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation, transparency and accountability, with Mr. Sunday reiterating that NDIC remains focused on balancing regulatory compliance with its overriding mandate of depositor protection and financial system stability.
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