Business

Debt Crisis Looms In States As Borrowings Outweigh Revenue

Published

7 years ago

July 2, 2018

There is a looming debt crisis in states as available figures indicate that their borrowings have far exceeded total revenues.
According to data from the National Bureau of statistics (NBS), the total debt of the states stood at over N7 trillion, as at the end of 2017, while total revenue for the period amounted to N2.67 trillion – N1.74 trillion from the federation account and N936 billion as total internally generated revenue.
The states with higher debt to revenue are Osun, Ekiti, Plateau, Cross River, Zamfara, Kogi, Imo, Oyo, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Abia, Edo, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Ogun, Enugu, Borno and Ondo, as contained in the NBS data.
With the total internally generated revenue of the states at N936, 471,407,367.06 compared to the total debt stock (N3.25 trillion), analysts raise concerns that most of the states cannot function without monthly the Federal Government allocation.
According to data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), the states debt, however, account for 21.77 percent of the country’s total debt stock.
Business analyst, Godwin Emmanuel Oyedokun, fears that there may soon be crisis in the states as the government is obviously incurring debt than their revenue, stressing that most of these borrowings are often not necessary.
According to Oyedokun, “The states are not doing well as regards their internally generated revenue, which means the states may continue to be poor as they are expected to keep servicing the debt. The borrowings most times are not necessary only that some governors are borrowing to do projects to show that they are working, and raising debt for the subsequent government after them.”
The states’ 2017 total debt stock was N58 billion higher than their total revenues in the same year. The total debt stock comprised of external debts and domestic debts, while the total revenue included revenues from net Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations, and internally generated revenue (IGR).
“These debts acquired were not in the favour of the states or the people, it is political,” Oyedokun stresses.
BusinessDay further analysis of the NBS revenue/debt data shows that in 2017, while Osun recorded a total revenue of N22.167 million, its debt stood at N138.336 million. Ekiti State’s total revenue stood at N30.601 million, but with a N117.573 million debt. Plateau State’s total revenue was reported at N40.408 million, but total debt settled at N122.379 million.
Cross River recorded a total revenue of N41.556 million and N125.81 million debt; Zamfara revenue stood at N34.476 million and N69.958 million debt.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu