Four Nigerian states reduced their domestic debt by more than 20 per cent in the first half of 2026, with Enugu recording the biggest reduction.

According to an analysis of Debt Management Office (DMO) data, Enugu, Jigawa, Ondo and Zamfara reduced their domestic debt between December 2025 and June 2026.

Four Nigerian states reduced their domestic debt by more than 20 per cent in the first half of 2026, with Enugu recording the biggest reduction.

According to an analysis of Debt Management Office (DMO) data, Enugu, Jigawa, Ondo and Zamfara reduced their domestic debt between December 2025 and June 2026.

The four states had a combined domestic debt of N224.66 billion in December 2025. By June 2026, the figure had fallen to N126.85 billion.

This represents a reduction of N97.81 billion, or 43.53 per cent, within six months.

Enugu recorded the highest reduction at 52.73 per cent, followed by Jigawa with 34.71 per cent, Ondo with 26.82 per cent and Zamfara with 20.86 per cent.

Enugu

Enugu’s domestic debt fell from N157.60 billion in December 2025 to N74.51 billion in June 2026.

This represents a reduction of N83.10 billion, or 52.73 per cent, the largest decline recorded by any state during the period.

The state recorded a 23.84 per cent reduction in the first quarter, before cutting its debt by another 37.93 per cent in the second quarter.

Jigawa

Jigawa reduced its domestic debt from N1.60 billion in December 2025 to N1.04 billion in June 2026.

The reduction amounted to N555.41 million, representing 34.71 per cent.

The state recorded no change in its debt during the first quarter, but reduced it by 34.71 per cent in the second quarter.

Ondo

Ondo’s domestic debt dropped from N8.42 billion to N6.16 billion during the six-month period.

This represents a reduction of N2.26 billion, or 26.82 per cent.

The state reduced its debt by 13.11 per cent in the first quarter and a further 15.78 per cent in the second quarter.

Zamfara

Zamfara’s domestic debt fell from N57.04 billion in December 2025 to N45.14 billion in June 2026.

The state reduced its debt by N11.90 billion, representing 20.86 per cent.

Most of the reduction occurred in the first quarter, when the debt fell by 16.77 per cent. It declined by another 4.91 per cent in the second quarter.

Other states also recorded notable reductions. Kwara’s debt fell by 18.93 per cent, Ogun by 16.89 per cent, Anambra by 16.74 per cent, Ebonyi by 15.55 per cent and Bayelsa by 15.36 per cent.

Overall, 26 states reduced their domestic debt between December 2025 and June 2026, while 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory recorded increases.

Edo recorded the largest increase at 135.72 per cent, followed by the FCT at 89.98 per cent, Borno at 70.52 per cent, Adamawa at 52.74 per cent and Delta at 48.41 per cent.

Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, has charged the newly sworn-in chairmen of the 17 local government areas in the state to immediately commence work, stressing that the local government system is not a passive arm of government in the state, but an active partner in the development agenda of the state government.

Mbah gave the charge following the swearing-in of the newly elected local government chairmen and vice chairmen at Government House, Enugu.

The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) had on Sunday declared candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winners of the 17 chairmanship and 260 councillorship seats in the council election conducted across the state on Saturday.

The chairmen and their council areas are John Ogbodo, Nkanu West; Mike Ogbuekwe, Nkanu East; Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, Aninri; Jude Chinedu Asogwa, Nsukka; Caleb Ani, Enugu South; Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze, Igboeze South; Brendan Emeka Ani, Isi-Uzo; Ibenaku Onoh, Enugu North; Martin Amadieze, Igbo-Etiti; and Innocent Ezeoha, Udenu.

Others are Chris Onyekachi Simon, Igboeze North; Chijioke Ezeugwu, Uzo Uwani; Hyginus Agu, Udi; Uche Okolo, Awgu; Beloved Dan Anike, Enugu East; Greg Anyaegbudike, Oji River; and Vitals Ndu, Ezeagu.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony the governor reminded the chairmen that the promises they made during the electioneering period had now become obligations to the electorate, describing the relationship between elected officials and the people as a social contract.

“In the last few weeks, you went around the communities, meeting our people, soliciting their votes. They have done you that honour of giving you their mandates to serve them and it is now your turn to discharge those commitments.

“So, what you have just done here today is beyond symbolism. It is quite significant because it means that you have just sealed the social contract you have with the people.

“I would, therefore, imagine that you are going to hit the ground running because there is really no honeymoon when we have quite a whole number of tasks ahead of us at this point,” he asserted.

Mbah stressed the strategic importance of the local government system, describing it as the tier of government closest to the people and a critical partner in the state’s development agenda.

He said the government’s objective to eradicate poverty could not be achieved without addressing poverty in rural communities where there is prevalence of poverty.

He, therefore, urged them to align their programmes and priorities with the broader development agenda of his administration, particularly in education, healthcare, sanitation, agriculture and poverty reduction.

Mbah further charged them to make themselves accessible and accountable to the people.

“You must be accessible to the people that elected you. You must be accountable to them. And you must spend their resources responsibly,” Mbah stressed.

On education, the governor urged the chairmen to go beyond physical infrastructure and focus on measurable outcomes, including literacy, numeracy and school enrolment.

“It should equally interest you to have the statistics of those kids that are of school age that are not in school in your local government and to be actively working to ensure that you have zero — and I mean zero — not even one child who is of school age should be out of school,” he said.

He urged the chairmen to make the welfare of poor and vulnerable residents a priority, saying poverty eradication would require deliberate measurement of progress rather than mere political declarations.

Responding on behalf of the chairmen, the re-elected Chairman of Igboeze South Local Government Area and Deputy Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Enugu State, Barr. Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze, expressed appreciation to the people of the state and Mbah for giving them the privilege to serve.

He said some of them, who had previously served under Mbah, had acquired valuable experience during the period and pledged the commitment of the chairmen to good governance and expressed confidence that, at the end of their tenure, they would be proud of their contributions to the development of Enugu State.

“For those of us that were privileged to serve under your leadership in the past two years, I can tell you that the knowledge gained, experience acquired cannot be measured in words.

“We want to sincerely commit and recommit ourselves to the course of your good governance so that at the end of our tenure, we will be proud that Enugu State gave you the opportunity to groom us to what we are actually becoming,” he said.

The event was witnessed by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; members representing Nkanu East and West, as well as Igboeze North and South Federal Constituencies, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji and Hon. Dennis Agbo, respectively; Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Ben Nwoye; State APC Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; Chief of Staff, Barr. Victor Udeh, among several other dignitaries and senior government officials.