General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Pastor Enoch Adeboye has recounted how one of his friend’s reaction after being informed that Nigeria’s debt profile had risen to N55 trillion.
Speaking on Sunday, September 26, 2021 during his sermon at an interdenominational church service which held to mark Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary and the 45th anniversary of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Abuja, Adeboye said thus:
“I have a friend that we schooled about the same time and we were born at about the same time. He is a great optimist. When we heard that Nigeria was owing N55tn, he said ‘praise the lord’, and when I looked at him with a question on my face, he said those who are praying for Nigeria are many and that the creditors know that if Nigeria does not survive, they won’t be able to get their money back.
“When he heard that the interest we have to pay on our debt is 98 per cent of our income and that even the Senate has approved that we should borrow more, he said ‘glory be to God’.
“I said how would you say glory be to God? He said ‘when what you owe is more than what you can pay, the creditors have a choice. It is either they forgive you your debts or you go ahead and declare bankruptcy. They get angry and then they come and seize the most valuable thing you have.’
“He said the most precious thing they can seize in Nigeria is the Aso Rock. When I said, what is there to thank God for in that? He said ‘have you not been listening to the news?’ He said the President said he would love to visit Daura every two weeks.
“So, he said if they seize Aso Rock, his (Buhari’s) request would be granted, he won’t have to visit Daura every two weeks. He will just move the seat of power to Daura.”
Adeboye, however, urged the public to always thank God despite the challenges in the country, while adding that all would be well.
Recently, Nigerians have been raising alarm over the country’s debt especially as President Muhammadu Buhari seeks Senate approval for new loans of $4.054bn and €710million as well as grant components of $125m for 15 proposed projects.
