Chukwu Obinna 
Nigeria House of Representatives
ABUJA, Nigeria – The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s plan to borrow ₦1.15 trillion from the domestic market to address a shortfall in the 2025 federal budget.
The decision followed heated debate during Wednesday’s plenary, where lawmakers reviewed a report from the Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management. Chairman Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba explained that the borrowing was necessary “to meet obligations and complete key national projects without destabilising fiscal balance.”
In his request to the House, President Tinubu said the borrowing would close a ₦1.15 trillion unfunded deficit, created after the National Assembly raised the 2025 budget to ₦59.99 trillion — about ₦5.25 trillion higher than his initial proposal.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen directed that oversight committees ensure transparency and compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (2007).
“The priority remains growth and completion of critical infrastructure,” said Nalaraba. “Borrowing must not become a comfort zone.”
Economists, however, warn that frequent domestic borrowing could pressure interest rates and crowd out private investment.
“Nigeria must strike a balance between fiscal expansion and debt sustainability,” said financial analyst Dr. Seyi Aremu.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Koko Maxwella 