RismadarVoice Reporters
September 18, 2026
Civil society organisations, youths, students and market women have staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding that the Federal Government reduce what they described as excessive borrowing and prioritise spending on critical public services.
The protesters, operating under the banner of Climate Action, expressed concern over Nigeria’s rising public debt and the resources required to service it.
They argued that the debt burden was reducing the funds available to address poverty, unemployment, climate-related challenges and other pressing development needs.
Carrying placards with different messages, the demonstrators called for reduced dependence on loans from international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
They also demanded greater transparency in public debt management and increased allocation of public resources to sectors they said would directly improve Nigerians’ welfare and livelihoods.
‘SAVE THE FUTURE OF NIGERIANS’
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, ActionAid Nigeria Social Mobilisation Specialist Newton Otsemaye said the demonstration was intended to draw attention to the potential implications of rising debt for Nigerians, particularly young people.
“Save the future of Nigerians. We have the largest young population in Africa, if not globally. But what are we doing with their future?” Otsemaye said.
He argued that government fiscal decisions should place greater emphasis on citizens and their development needs.
“It is not about profit; it should be about the people. Development is about people,” he said.
Otsemaye said the Finance Ministry was chosen for the demonstration because of its central role in managing government finances and public debt.
He said women’s groups, activists, youths and university students participated in the protest, with concerns over borrowing serving as their common demand.
The protesters also raised concerns about the relationship between government revenue and debt-servicing obligations, arguing that continued increases in borrowing could place additional pressure on resources available for social and economic programmes.
They called on the Federal Government to reassess its borrowing strategy, strengthen transparency around public debt and ensure that available resources are directed towards programmes capable of improving livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities.
The concerns expressed during the demonstration represent the protesters’ position. The Federal Government’s response to the specific demands was not included in the information available at the time of reporting.
