Reno Omokri has disputed a report on Nigeria’s debt profile, arguing that the country’s total public debt had already risen to about $113 billion before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.
In a statement, Omokri challenged a fact-check that referenced Nigeria’s debt as of March 31, 2023, describing it as an incomplete reflection of the actual debt inherited by the current administration. He explained that the figure did not include additional borrowings and liabilities recorded in the second quarter of 2023.
He further claimed that data from the Debt Management Office and other fact-checking sources indicate that Nigeria’s total public debt had increased to approximately $113 billion by June 2023, citing both external and domestic components, as well as obligations described as “ways and means” financing.
Omokri urged media organisations to ensure accuracy in reporting and to review the figures, insisting that earlier reports may have presented a misleading picture of the country’s debt position at the time of the transition of power.
The clarification adds to ongoing public discussions about Nigeria’s debt profile and the interpretation of official economic data across different reporting periods.
