Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Senate for approving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's request for a $6 billion external loan in less than four hours. The African Democratic Congress chieftain described the speed of the approval as deeply troubling, questioning the level of scrutiny applied to such a significant financial decision. He raised concerns over the transparency and due process behind the fast-tracked loan, which was reportedly presented and approved on the same day. Atiku warned that bypassing thorough legislative review could set a dangerous precedent for future borrowing. He urged national attention on how public debt is being managed under the current administration. The former vice president emphasized that such loans directly affect Nigeria's economic stability and citizens' long-term financial burden.
Approving a $6 billion loan in under four hours suggests the Senate treated Tinubu's request as a formality rather than a fiscal responsibility. Atiku, once a long-time insider in federal financial dealings, now positions himself as a critic of rushed borrowing—though he supported similar measures in past administrations. This episode does not signal new accountability, but rather business as usual with different faces in charge. For Nigerians, it means more debt on the table without clear answers on repayment or project impact.
