Peter Obi, Poll Leader In Nigerian Elections Pledges Debt Revamp - Bloomberg.

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Peter Obi, the top choice in four opinion polls ahead of next month's Nigerian elections, has promised to reprofile the nation's debt if elected. Obi, a third-party candidate running on the Labour Party ticket, said he would extend payments of the country's debt over a longer period. "Then we will say no more borrowing for consumption," he said. "If need be, we'll only borrow transparently for investment." Nigeria's total debt stock almost quadrupled under outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari to about 44 trillion nairas ($95 billion) as of September. While this represents less than 30% of the nation's gross domestic product, debt service consumes more than 80% of the country's income. According to Obi, Most of the country's borrowing has been spent on "consumption" than on production. "Nigeria has grown its debt by about 400%, but its per capita income has declined," he said, adding, "That means that the money we borrowed was thrown away."

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