By Editor
Senator Adamu Aliero, who represents Kebbi Central in the National Assembly, on Tuesday expressed concern over the rapid increase in Nigeria’s public debt under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He described the borrowing trend as “astronomical” and said it has become a major source of anxiety for citizens across the country.
Speaking during plenary, the former governor and minister said the debt profile of the federal government has grown to levels that require urgent scrutiny. According to him, Nigerians are beginning to feel the pressure of rising obligations at a time when the cost of living remains high.
Aliero noted that while borrowing can be necessary to finance critical infrastructure and development projects, the pace and scale of the current borrowing raise questions about sustainability. He argued that debt servicing is already taking a large share of government revenue.
The senator urged the executive to provide clearer details on how borrowed funds are being deployed. He said transparency would help calm public fears and allow lawmakers and citizens to track impact on roads, health, education and power.
He also called on the Senate to strengthen its oversight role on loan approvals. According to Aliero, every new loan request should be tied to specific projects with timelines, deliverables and repayment plans that are made public.
Reacting to concerns about economic reforms, Aliero acknowledged that the Tinubu administration inherited fiscal challenges. However, he stressed that solutions must not mortgage the future of the next generation through excessive debt accumulation.
The Kebbi Central senator warned that continuous borrowing without corresponding growth in revenue could limit the government’s ability to fund social services. He said this could worsen poverty and unemployment if not addressed quickly.
Aliero further advised that government should prioritize widening the tax base and blocking leakages instead of relying heavily on domestic and external loans. He said improving revenue collection would reduce the pressure to borrow.
He concluded by appealing to the federal government to engage the National Assembly and economic experts more closely before taking new loans. The senator said a balanced approach is needed to keep the economy stable while protecting Nigerians from the long term burden of debt.
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