Borrowing Is Not Leprosy, We’ll Keep Taking Loans for Development – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended his administration’s continued resort to external borrowing, insisting that debt remains a legitimate and necessary instrument for driving national development.

The President said Nigeria would continue to access loans for critical infrastructure and economic projects, provided such funds are properly deployed to productive sectors capable of stimulating growth.

Speaking during a recent engagement with stakeholders, Tinubu dismissed concerns and negative perceptions often associated with rising national debt, arguing that borrowing is a normal practice among nations pursuing development.

According to him, attention should not be focused on borrowing itself but on the responsible management and repayment of loans through sustained economic productivity.

“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,” the President said.

He explained that no country can achieve meaningful economic transformation without strategic financial leverage, stressing that borrowing, when properly managed, is essential for infrastructure expansion and long-term growth.

Tinubu added that his administration is prioritising investments in key sectors of the economy, including infrastructure and productivity-enhancing projects, to ensure that borrowed funds translate into tangible development outcomes.

He maintained that with the right economic policies, Nigeria would be able to generate sufficient revenue to service its debt obligations without undermining fiscal stability.

The President also called for a shift in public discourse around national debt, noting that borrowing is a common strategy adopted by many advanced and emerging economies to finance development and expansion.

He reiterated that the current administration remains committed to responsible borrowing, fiscal discipline, and ensuring that every loan taken contributes meaningfully to national progress.