The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says Nigeria has recorded a significant increase in birth registration over the past two years, with 14 million children officially registered.

UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja on Friday.

Abdelatef described birth registration as the first right of every child, noting that it ensures children are counted, recognised, and legally identified. She said the progress recorded in Nigeria within two years is remarkable.

“Birth registration is the first right of every child to be counted and recognised. I have served in many places, but I have not seen this level of progress achieved within two years,” she said.

She added that the birth registration system is being digitalised at health facilities nationwide to improve efficiency and access.

According to her, a bill currently before the National Assembly is also expected to strengthen the process, attributing the progress to strong national leadership.

Abdelatef commended the First Lady for her leadership and commitment to initiatives that impact children and families across the country.

She also referenced her participation at events hosted by the First Lady, including the launch of a food bank and engagements linked to the Renewed Hope Agenda.

In her remarks, Tinubu acknowledged UNICEF’s longstanding support to Nigeria, emphasising that birth registration must continue until every Nigerian child is documented.

“Every child counts,” she said, stressing that legal identity and nationality are essential for integrating children into health and social services.

The First Lady said she was encouraged by the progress recorded but noted that more work remains to be done.

“We have to keep at it and make sure that every child is counted. It is not just about birth registration alone; we are also looking at birth certificates,” she said.

Tinubu also highlighted the importance of accurate population data, noting that Nigeria has not conducted a census in many years. She said focusing on registering children would help the government better plan for health, education, and other social services.

While expressing satisfaction with improvements in birth registration, the First Lady raised concerns over the high rates of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and child and maternal mortality in the country.
“Nigeria has a huge population.

When it comes to tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and child and maternal mortality, the numbers are still high, and that is worrisome,” she said.

She, however, assured that the current administration is taking steps to address these challenges and position the country for a better future.

Tinubu thanked UNICEF for its continued partnership and pledged further collaboration, noting that the organisation has consistently provided reliable data to support government planning and policy implementation.

Nigeria’s total public debt increased to N153.29 trillion as of September 30, 2025, according to the Debt Management Office (DMO).

In a statement published on its website, the DMO said the figure represents a N900 billion increase or 0.59 percent  compared to the N152.39 trillion recorded at the end of June 2025.

The debt office explained that the public debt profile comprises both domestic and external debt stocks of the federal government and the subnational governments — the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the DMO, total domestic debt stood at N81.81 trillion (approximately $55.47 billion), while total external debt amounted to N71.47 trillion (about $48.46 billion).

A breakdown of the domestic component shows that the federal government accounted for the largest share, with its domestic debt rising to N77.81 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, up from N76.58 trillion in the second quarter.

Similarly, domestic debt owed by states and the FCT increased marginally from N3.96 trillion in June to N4 trillion in September 2025.

The upward trend in the debt profile reflects the federal government’s need to finance critical infrastructure and cover significant budget shortfalls.

Nigeria’s 2026 budget deficit is projected at no less than N23.85 trillion, representing 4.28 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Public discourse around borrowing remains sensitive in Nigeria, particularly amid recurring concerns about widening budget deficits and revenue allocation.

In January 2025, the DMO refuted claims in a report alleging that Nigeria’s public debt rose from N21 trillion to N142 trillion under President Bola Tinubu.

The office clarified that Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N87 trillion when Tinubu assumed office, not N21 trillion as claimed.

Earlier, on May 17, 2025, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) reported that both federal and state governments had reduced their debt burdens, citing increased disbursements from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) as a supporting factor.

The latest data from the DMO, however, shows a renewed increase in the country’s overall debt stock as of the third quarter of 2025.

The European Union has pledged a €22 million grant to support Nigeria’s nationwide fibre-optic expansion under the Federal Government’s BRIDGE Project, in a move signalling deepening digital cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Announced in Abuja on Wednesday, the grant will be channelled through the EBRD and passed on to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. The funding complements an €86 million sovereign loan from the bank its first major sovereign operation in Nigeria since the country joined as a shareholder last year.

Nigeria’s Communications Minister, Bosun Tijani, described the agreement as a key milestone toward delivering Project BRIDGE on schedule, expressing appreciation for the EU’s commitment to enhanced engagement with Nigeria’s digital sector.

The announcement coincided with the official visit of EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso, who said the partnership would help unlock private investment and ensure resilient, inclusive and cyber-secure connectivity nationwide.

At the centre of the initiative is a plan to deploy about 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable across the country through a Special Purpose Vehicle structured to include 51 per cent private sector participation. The EBRD financing is expected to align with additional sovereign support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, said digital infrastructure has become a central pillar of EU–Nigeria relations, stressing the shared priority of building trusted and resilient networks that meet international standards.

Beyond financing, the EU package blends investment support with technical assistance. It will fund preliminary design work for the first 40,000 kilometres of network, including route surveys, digital mapping, quality assurance systems and security risk assessments, effectively creating a ready-to-deploy blueprint once full financing is secured.

The grant will also train 2,000 technicians, subsidise equipment for rollout, and support smaller contractors through pooled procurement arrangements. Officials estimate these measures could cut deployment costs by 20–30 per cent while ensuring compliance with both Nigerian and EU technical requirements.

Industry analysts say the deal’s structure  particularly cybersecurity and open-access provisions tied to the EBRD loan reflects an effort to anchor Nigeria’s broadband expansion on transparency, competition and global best practice.

For Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and one of its fastest-growing digital markets, the BRIDGE Project is expected to close connectivity gaps, strengthen digital public services and position the country as a continental technology hub, while advancing Europe’s Global Gateway strategy through blended finance and private-sector mobilisation.