Nigerians Should Beg The National Asembly To Save The Nation From Debt – Obasanjo

Posted by: Folamidavid in News, Politics Dec 28, 2019

Ex Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has come out to say that Nigeria risks bankruptcy under the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari.

OBJ revealed this as he spoke in Lagos at the first edition of the Nigerian Story organized by the ‘Why I Am Alive’ campaign.

His words, “As at 2015, total external debt was about $10.32billion. In four years, our external debt grew to N24.947 trillion or $81.274 billion.”

According to him, we must take loans with a high degree of discipline, responsibility, and foresight.

He added that Nigerians should unite and call on the National Assembly to save the nation from debt.

“creditors are less tolerant of our limitations and inadequacies.”

“As at 2015, total external debt was about $10.32billion. In four years, our external debt grew to N24,947 trillion or $81.274 billion. To service this current level of indebtedness, we must commit at least 50 per cent of our foreign earnings, such a situation tells about an impending bankruptcy because no entity can survive while devoting 50 per cent of its revenue to debt servicing.”

“In 2018, total debt servicing cost took over 60 per cent of government revenue. As if this is not bad enough, we are currently seeking to add another $29.6 billion loan to our already overburdened debt portfolio.”

“Our current budget, out of which we are spending 25 per cent to service debt is not our total earnings, a lot of it is also borrowing. We are borrowing to service what we have borrowed and yet we are borrowing more.”

“For once, all Nigerians need to rise up and shout in one voice and call on the National Assembly to rise up to its core duty and responsibility and save our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren from being mirred in debt.”

“The forecasts now are scary. At the present rate, Nigeria’s population by 2050 will be well over 400 million and Lagos alone will be over 40 million. If we continue as we are going now and as we have gone start and stop in the past, we will be one of the most wretched of the world and maybe the most wretched in Africa.”