Nigeria’s public debt stock increased from N153.29 trillion ($103.94 billion dollars ) in the third quarter of 2025 to N159.28 trillion ($110.97 billion ) in Q4 2025. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said this in its Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt Report for Q4 2025 released in Abuja yesterday.
The report said that Nigeria’s public debt stock, which included external and domestic debts, grew by 3.90 per cent on a quarter-onquarter basis. It said that total external debt stood at N74.43 trillion, while domestic debt was N84.85 trillion within the period.
The report said that the share of external debt to total public debt(in Naira value) stood at 46.73 per cent in Q4 2025, while the share of domestic debt to total public debt was 53.37 per cent.’’
In a breakdown by states, the bureau said that Lagos state recorded the highest domestic debt of N1.22 trillion in Q4 2025, followed by Rivers with N378.81 billion.
The report showed that Jigawa recorded the lowest domestic debt with N1.60 billion, followed by Ondo with N8.42 billion. The NBS said that Lagos state also recorded the highest external debt in Q4 2025 with 1.17 billion dollars, followed by Kaduna state opening a strategic corridor into Francophone West Africa and reinforcing our commitment to facilitating trade, investment, and enterprise growth across the continent.
As we continue to expand thoughtfully and strategically, we remain focused on delivering world-class banking solutions that connect African businesses to global opportunities.” The new subsidiary will be headed by MD/CEO Mr. Cédric Tano, a seasoned banking executive with over two decades of experience.
Speaking ahead of the official opening, he said: “We are proud to establish Zenith Bank’s presence in Côte d’Ivoire at a time of strong economic growth in the country and increasing regional integration. Our focus is to showcase the Zenith brand as a customer-centric institution that combines global best practices with deep local insight. We are well positioned to support businesses with innovative financing solutions, facilitate cross-border trade, and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the Ivorian economy and the wider WAEMU region.”
The Côte d’Ivoire launch forms part of Zenith Bank’s broader continental growth strategy. In addition to the Anglophone countries where it currently operates, and in line with the expansion into the Francophone market, the Bank has commenced its entry process into the CEMAC (Central African Economic and Monetary Community) region, with Cameroon as the focal point.
With a footprint already spanning Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, the United Kingdom, France, the UAE, and China, Zenith Bank continues to bridge African markets with global opportunities, enabling seamless trade and financial connectivity across the continent and beyond. with 684.29 million dollars. “The Federal Capital Territory(FCT) recorded the lowest external debt in Q4 2025 with 26.80 million dollars, followed by Zamfara with 41.93 million dollars,” the report said.
