The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma was publicly embarrassed on Monday when he could not name the specific figure of Nigeria’s debt profile.

Mr. Udoma lost his composure when CNN journalist Zain Asher Ejiofor asked him the question during the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit taking place in Abuja.

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Ms Ejiofor asked: “How much does Nigeria owe right now?”

Answering the question, which followed the thread of the discussion on recent capital releases for infrastructure project, the minister said the exact figures cannot be made available at that moment since, given its multi-sectoral nature, it has to be authenticated by the appropriate agencies of government before one can say what the exact figure is.

The minister was short of words and in his response. He said: “I can’t give you the exact figure, but I can get back to you on that.” Zain Asher further asked “But you are the minister of budget”

He said: I can tell you the fiscal deficit but until everybody, all the various ministries… Right now we have a committee that is looking at all the debt.”


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