Renowned Arise TV broadcaster and journalist, Rufai Oseni, has questioned a recent claim made by former presidential aide Reno Omokri that Nigeria has completely cleared its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Reno Omokri, in a social media post on Wednesday, had praised President Tinubu for what he described as the “sound handling of our economy,” claiming that Nigeria is now “entirely debt-free to the IMF.” He also took a swipe at supporters of former presidential candidate Peter Obi, alleging they deliberately ignored the news because it didn’t align with their narrative.
“Thanks to President Bola Tinubu’s sound handling of our economy, Nigeria is now entirely debt-free to the IMF,” Omokri wrote. “Notice how Peter Obi and his followers have avoided that news. But if something bad happens in Nigeria, they will get drunk with joy and start posting. Or am I lying?”
In response, Oseni, known for his critical and data-driven approach to national issues, replied with skepticism. He stated that he had not yet seen any official release by the IMF confirming the alleged debt clearance.
“Yet to see a full release by IMF on the clearing of our debt. You can show me the release if you have it,” Oseni wrote in reply to Omokri’s post.
The exchange has sparked a fresh debate on social media, with many Nigerians demanding clarity on the country’s debt status. While Omokri’s supporters hailed the development as a milestone achievement by the Tinubu administration, others sided with Oseni, calling for verified data before celebrating such claims.
As of the latest available data from the IMF and Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO), the country still holds multiple financial obligations, including outstanding loans from various multilateral institutions, with the IMF among them.
No official statement has yet been issued by the IMF confirming a complete debt clearance by Nigeria. The Fund’s online debt database and reports still reflect ongoing financial engagements with the country.
