The Senate on Wednesday began scrutiny of President Bola Tinubu’s request to secure $7.7bn (N10.79tn) external loan, referring the proposal to its Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for detailed consideration.
The proposed borrowing, which forms part of the Federal Government’s financing plan for the 2026 fiscal year, is expected to contribute to funding a budget deficit estimated at N31.4tn, further placing government borrowing and growing debt obligations under legislative and public scrutiny.
Tinubu’s request, contained in a letter dated October 26, 2026, and addressed to the President of the Senate, sought the National Assembly’s approval to raise N10,790,366,835,481, equivalent to $7,707,404,882.49, using the budget exchange rate of N1,400 to the dollar.
The letter was read during Wednesday’s plenary, following which the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, referred the request to the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts and directed it to report back as soon as practicable.
The proposed $7.7bn external borrowing represents the foreign component of the N29.2tn new borrowing provision contained in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
According to the President, the approved borrowing plan comprises N18.4tn in domestic loans and N10.79tn in external financing to part-finance the country’s projected N31.4tn budget deficit.
“The 2026 Appropriation Act approved the sum of N29.2tn as new borrowings to part-finance the 2026 budget deficit of about N31.4tn,” the letter stated.
