The Debt Management Office (DMO), in collaboration with the World Bank, has empowered subnational governments in Northern Nigeria with tools and knowledge to strengthen borrowing practices and promote debt sustainability.
The capacity-building workshop, organised under the States’ Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme, was held in Abuja for top policymakers and senior officials from northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Director-General of the DMO, Ms Patience Oniha, said the workshop was designed to familiarise state officials with responsible borrowing practices, existing laws and approval processes guiding public debt management.
She explained that aligning subnational borrowing practices with federal guidelines is critical to ensuring transparency, fiscal discipline and long-term sustainability.
“Debt is such an important fiscal variable that involves several stakeholders, which is why we have a diverse group here,” Oniha said. “The objective is that after this workshop, collaboration across states will be stronger and more effective.”
According to her, many states struggle with borrowing because of limited understanding of the required processes, documentation and compliance standards.
“How do we make subnational governments understand the borrowing process so they can raise funds for development? If the process is not understood, compliance becomes difficult and access to funding is restricted,” she noted.
Oniha said the training was structured to equip states with practical knowledge to raise development finance responsibly while ensuring that borrowed funds are channelled strictly into productive projects.
She also warned that poor debt management practices could expose governments to serious fiscal risks, including debt restructuring, credit rating downgrades and limited access to future financing.
“Debt sustainability requires transparency, proper documentation, monitoring and reporting. We must get it right to avoid severe economic consequences,” she added.
Acting Head of Service of the Federal Capital Territory, Ms Nancy Nathan, described the workshop as an opportunity to empower policymakers with the skills required to navigate complex borrowing decisions in a changing economic environment.
“In a rapidly evolving economic landscape, access to finance is a critical enabler for development,” Nathan said. “This programme demystifies borrowing processes and clarifies documentation requirements.”
She added that the initiative would strengthen the capacity of states to make informed borrowing decisions, improve fiscal responsibility and support sustainable development outcomes across subnational governments.
The World Bank-supported workshop is part of ongoing efforts to build stronger institutions, improve public finance management and support long-term economic stability at the state level.
