UN Deputy SG Amina Mohammed Urges Fair Debt Relief for Africa to Achieve Sustainable Development

 

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, has called for urgent and sustainable debt solutions for Nigeria and other African nations, emphasizing that addressing the continent’s rising debt burden is essential to unlocking long-term development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking at the Africa Economic Dialogue Forum held in Abuja on Tuesday, Mohammed highlighted the growing pressure that debt servicing places on national budgets, particularly in developing economies like Nigeria. She warned that unless bold and coordinated actions are taken by both African governments and international financial institutions, the continent risks slipping further behind in its development goals.

“Too many African countries are spending more on servicing debt than on healthcare, education, or infrastructure,” said Mohammed, a former Nigerian Minister of Environment. “We must restructure debt in ways that promote investment in people and the planet, not just in payments to creditors. Without fiscal space, development is stalled.”

According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), more than 20 African countries currently spend over 20% of their annual revenues on external debt servicing. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and largest economy, is projected to spend approximately 30% of its 2025 federal budget on debt repayments—despite facing pressing social and infrastructural challenges.

Mohammed urged international lenders, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and private creditors, to consider more equitable and development-friendly debt arrangements. She also called for increased transparency and better governance in public finance management across Africa.

“Africa’s debt must be seen not as a burden, but as a tool—if properly managed and invested,” she added. “What we need is a new global financial architecture that prioritizes human development, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth.”

Her remarks were echoed by Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, who reiterated the government's commitment to fiscal discipline and improving revenue generation, but appealed for global solidarity. “Nigeria is ready to do the hard work. But we ask for a fair playing field and the support needed to grow sustainably,” he said.

Development experts at the event also called for reforms to the G20 Common Framework on debt treatment and greater African representation in global financial decision-making.

The call from Amina Mohammed comes at a critical time, as many African nations navigate post-COVID recovery, climate challenges, and the economic fallout of geopolitical tensions—all while managing unsustainable debt levels.

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