Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended his administration’s approach to public borrowing, insisting that loans are a necessary tool for national development and should not be viewed negatively.
Speaking on the country’s fiscal strategy, Tinubu said borrowing remains a legitimate option for financing critical projects, provided it is managed responsibly and repaid through increased productivity and economic discipline.
“If we have to borrow money, we will, because borrowing is not leprosy; we just have to work hard to be able to repay it,” he said.
The president’s remarks come amid ongoing public debate over Nigeria’s rising debt profile and concerns about long-term fiscal sustainability.
His administration has consistently argued that borrowing is being directed toward infrastructure, energy, and social investments aimed at stimulating growth and improving living standards.
Critics, however, continue to warn that increasing debt obligations could strain future revenues if not matched by stronger economic output and accountability in spending.
