Bayelsa Records Highest Debt Reduction As Diri Sustains Fiscal Discipline

Bayelsa State has emerged as the top-performing sub-national in Nigeria in terms of debt reduction, following a significant 22.4 per cent decline in its debt profile between 2024 and 2025.

Figures released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) and corroborated by the latest ranking from the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICiR) show that the state’s total debt dropped from N168.86 billion in 2024 to N130.98 billion in 2025.

The achievement underscores the fiscal discipline of Governor Douye Diri’s administration, which has prioritised prudent financial management while steadily reducing inherited liabilities from previous governments.

Despite the aggressive push to lower the state’s debt burden, the administration has continued to execute major infrastructure and development projects. These big-ticket initiatives are seen as critical to improving the state’s economic outlook and overall development trajectory.

The ICiR ranking of Nigeria’s 36 states by debt profile in 2025 further highlights Bayelsa’s improved standing, placing it among the least indebted states in the country alongside Ondo, Yobe and Jigawa.

States with the highest debt burden include Lagos, Kaduna, Rivers, Edo, Ogun, Cross River, Bauchi, Enugu, Delta and Niger. Others classified under upper-middle debt levels are Katsina, Benue, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Ekiti, Plateau, Abia, Osun and Adamawa.

The mid-range debt category comprises Kano, Taraba, Sokoto, Kwara, Gombe, Kebbi and Zamfara, while Nasarawa, Borno, Kogi, Ebonyi and Anambra fall within the lower debt bracket.

Analysts say Bayelsa’s improved debt position reflects a deliberate effort to balance fiscal responsibility with sustainable development, positioning the state for stronger economic stability in the coming years.