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Presidential Borrowing Dashboard
How much did each president add to Nigeria's debt? (1999–2026)
Borrowing Leaderboard
Ranked by total debt added (highest to lowest)
Rank President Years Inherited Left / Current Debt Added Annual Rate Growth %
🥇 Muhammadu Buhari 2015–2023 $59.7B $105.1B +$45.4B $5.7B/yr +76%
🥈 Goodluck Jonathan 2010–2015 $25.4B $59.7B +$34.3B $6.9B/yr +135%
🥉 Umaru Musa Yar'Adua 2007–2010 $17.6B $25.4B +$7.8B $2.6B/yr +44%
4 Bola Ahmed Tinubu ONGOING 2023–present $105.1B $106.3B +$1.2B* $0.6B/yr +1%
5 Olusegun Obasanjo 1999–2007 $36.7B $17.6B $-19.1B $-2.4B/yr -52%
* Ongoing administration — figures will change as presidency continues

Key Findings

  • Olusegun Obasanjo reduced $19.1B ($2.4B/year) over 8 years
  • Umaru Musa Yar'Adua added $7.8B ($2.6B/year) over 3 years
  • Goodluck Jonathan added $34.3B ($6.9B/year) over 5 years
  • Muhammadu Buhari added $45.4B ($5.7B/year) over 8 years
  • Bola Ahmed Tinubu has added $1.2B ($0.6B/year) over 2 years (still in office)
OO
Olusegun Obasanjo
1999–2007 (8 yrs)
$-19.1B
Start: $36.7B → Left: $17.6B
$-2.4B/year
UY
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
2007–2010 (3 yrs)
+$7.8B
Inherited: $17.6B → Left: $25.4B
+$2.6B/year
GJ
Goodluck Jonathan
2010–2015 (5 yrs)
+$34.3B
Inherited: $25.4B → Left: $59.7B
+$6.9B/year
MB
Muhammadu Buhari
2015–2023 (8 yrs)
+$45.4B
Inherited: $59.7B → Left: $105.1B
+$5.7B/year
BT
Bola Ahmed Tinubu IN OFFICE
2023–present (2 yrs so far)
+$1.2B
Inherited: $105.1B → So Far: $106.3B
+$0.6B/year
Total Debt Added by President (USD B)
Net change in total public debt during tenure
Annual Borrowing Rate (USD B/year)
Average debt added per year in office
Debt Growth Percentage
How much did debt grow relative to what was inherited?
Year-by-Year Debt Change
Annual change in total debt (USD B)
External vs Domestic Borrowing
How much of new debt was external vs domestic?
Debt-to-GDP at Handover
Ratio when inheriting vs leaving office
What Was the Debt Used For?
Approximate allocation of borrowing by purpose (estimates based on budget data)
Purpose Breakdown (All Presidents)
Each bar totals 100% — compare allocation across administrations
Obasanjo
Olusegun Obasanjo
Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari
Tinubu
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Fiscal Context
Why we borrow, what's hidden, and what it costs — the bigger picture behind the debt
Fuel Subsidy Spending (₦ Trillions)
Annual FGN subsidy. Removed May 2023 — biggest single fiscal reform in a decade.
CBN Ways & Means (₦ Trillions, end-of-year)
CBN overdraft to FG. ₦22.7T converted to bonds in May 2023.
Tax-to-GDP Ratio
Why Nigeria borrows: among the lowest tax bases globally.
Eurobond Yield (10-year, %)
Live cost of fresh USD borrowing — market's verdict on Nigeria.
Debt Service vs Education vs Health (₦ Trillions)
Federal actual spending. Debt service has out-paced both for years.
Debt Maturity Profile (USD Billions)
When external/Eurobond principal falls due — refinance risk window. Source: DMO.
Year-by-Year Breakdown
See exactly how much was borrowed (or repaid) each year. Bars show relative size of change.
OO
Olusegun Obasanjo
1999–2007 · PDP
Inherited
$36.7B
Left With
$17.6B
Net Added
$-19.1B
Per Year
$-2.4B
Year Borrowed / Repaid Change Total Debt
1999
$0.0B
$36.7B
2000
$0.4B
$37.1B
2001
$0.2B
$37.3B
2002
$2.6B
$39.9B
2003
$2.2B
$42.1B
2004
$0.6B
$41.5B
2005
$10.1B
$31.4B
2006
$13.8B
$17.6B
UY
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
2007–2010 · PDP
Inherited
$17.6B
Left With
$25.4B
Net Added
+$7.8B
Per Year
$2.6B
Year Borrowed / Repaid Change Total Debt
2007
$3.7B
$21.3B
2008
$1.9B
$23.2B
2009
$2.2B
$25.4B
GJ
Goodluck Jonathan
2010–2015 · PDP
Inherited
$25.4B
Left With
$59.7B
Net Added
+$34.3B
Per Year
$6.9B
Year Borrowed / Repaid Change Total Debt
2010
$9.9B
$35.3B
2011
$6.5B
$41.8B
2012
$2.9B
$44.7B
2013
$5.5B
$50.2B
2014
$9.5B
$59.7B
MB
Muhammadu Buhari
2015–2023 · APC
Inherited
$59.7B
Left With
$105.1B
Net Added
+$45.4B
Per Year
$5.7B
Year Borrowed / Repaid Change Total Debt
2015
$4.3B
$55.4B
2016
$7.6B
$47.8B
2017
$12.3B
$60.1B
2018
$7.0B
$67.1B
2019
$7.3B
$74.4B
2020
$0.9B
$75.3B
2021
$6.9B
$82.2B
2022
$22.9B
$105.1B
BT
Bola Ahmed Tinubu ONGOING
2023–present · APC · 2 yrs so far
Inherited
$105.1B
Current
$106.3B
Added So Far
+$1.2B
Per Year
$0.6B
Year Borrowed / Repaid Change Total Debt
2023
$0.9B
$104.2B
2024
$14.9B
$89.3B
2025
$9.7B
$99.0B
2026
$7.3B
$106.3B