‘Other Countries Will Borrow From Nigeria’ – Atiku Camp Revives Tinubu’s Wife’s 2025 Promise

The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revived a 2025 statement by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu in which she predicted that Nigeria would become so prosperous that other countries would borrow money from it by 2026.

Phrank Shaibu, Special Adviser on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, recalled the statement while reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s latest request for fresh foreign loans worth billions of dollars and euros.

Shaibu took to his X account to question the First Lady’s prediction, suggesting that the country’s growing reliance on external borrowing was far removed from the economic prosperity she had promised.

Addressing the First Lady, he wrote, “Your Excellency @SenRemiTinubu, your Bobo @officialABAT don fail you oooooo.”

He added, “At the rate he is going, other countries will borrow nothing from Nigeria except Bola’s talent for drowning a nation in debt and calling it prosperity.”

Shaibu’s comment was accompanied by a reference to a statement made by Oluremi Tinubu in December 2025, when she expressed confidence that the economic reforms introduced by her husband’s administration would transform Nigeria into a prosperous country.

The First Lady made the declaration shortly after she was installed as Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua at a ceremony held at the Palace Square in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The event was organised to celebrate the 10th coronation anniversary of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Speaking during the ceremony, Mrs Tinubu expressed optimism about the direction of the Nigerian economy, insisting that the ongoing reforms under President Tinubu would soon produce significant results.

She declared that Nigeria would achieve prosperity by 2026 and become financially strong enough for other countries to seek loans from it.

According to her, “Nigeria’s joy has come, those wondering how we want to do it, we will show them how things are being done.”

She further stated, “By 2026, Nigeria will be in prosperity, and other countries will come and borrow money from us.”

The First Lady also expressed confidence that the Tinubu administration would achieve a milestone that would surprise critics and leaders across the world.

She said, “It is important to say it here at the source of the Yoruba cradle today, that during this present administration led by President Bola Tinubu, they will wonder how he was able to achieve such a milestone.”

However, Shaibu’s latest reaction comes amid renewed attention on the Federal Government’s borrowing plans following President Tinubu’s request for additional external loans.

In a letter presented to the National Assembly, the President sought approval to obtain $20.52 billion and €1.04 billion to finance projects and programmes across different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The request was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday.

The proposed borrowing is expected to support government programmes and projects, although the detailed breakdown of the amounts allocated to individual projects was not immediately available.

President Tinubu’s administration has consistently defended its borrowing strategy, arguing that additional financing is necessary to address the country’s infrastructure deficit, support economic development and meet government obligations.

The government has also maintained that the resources required to execute major projects across the country cannot be generated solely through available domestic revenue.