Nigerian states collectively paid ₦455.38 billion to service foreign loan obligations in 2025, according to Federation Accounts Allocation Committee figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics and obtained by Punch.

This figure represents an increase compared with the ₦362.08 billion paid in 2024, the data show.

The deductions for foreign debt service are made at source from state allocations under the FAAC framework to meet external loan repayment obligations, the report said.

The state foreign debt service payments in 2025 varied across months. In January, total deductions stood at ₦40.09 billion, before easing to ₦39.10 billion in February.

The monthly figure of ₦39.10 billion was maintained from March through July. In August, deductions fell to ₦36.14 billion and remained at that level through December, according to the FAAC data.

The pattern in 2025 showed relatively stable monthly deductions compared with 2024, when payments swung more sharply across different months, the report said.

In 2025, the top 10 states with the highest foreign debt service payments accounted for about 68.57 per cent of the total, the FAAC data indicate.

• Lagos State recorded the highest deduction at ₦92.80 billion, up from ₦72.32 billion in 2024.

• Rivers State followed with ₦48.58 billion, compared with ₦23.13 billion the previous year.

• Kaduna State recorded ₦47.93 billion, up from ₦45.59 billion.

• Ogun State saw ₦25.20 billion, up from ₦11.99 billion.

• Cross River State had ₦21.01 billion, compared with ₦17.10 billion.

• Oyo State recorded ₦20.17 billion, up from ₦17.85 billion.

• Edo State reported ₦18.70 billion, compared with ₦16.73 billion.

• Bauchi State had ₦16.85 billion, up from ₦13.75 billion.

• Kano State’s deduction was ₦10.63 billion, up from ₦8.53 billion.

• Ebonyi State recorded ₦10.37 billion, compared with ₦6.77 billion.

Overall, the FAAC data show that states across the six geopolitical zones made varying levels of foreign debt service payments in 2025, the report said.