Claim
A Facebook post shared by a page named PressExpress Nigeria claims that the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said that ‘Nigeria does not have enough money’ and that ‘it is better for the country to borrow funds to execute development projects’.
The Post was also circulated here and here.
Background
Godswill Akpabio is a Nigerian politician currently serving as the President of the Senate of Nigeria, a position he assumed in June 2023 following the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
Before becoming Senate President, Akpabio served as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015 and later as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 to 2022.
He has remained an influential figure within Nigeria’s ruling political landscape.
Verification
A review of credible news reports and broadcast coverage confirms that Godswill Akpabio made remarks supporting government borrowing during discussions around a loan request by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The statement was made while Akpabio defended the federal government’s request for a $516 million loan intended to support infrastructure development, including the proposed Sokoto–Badagry Super-highway.
According to multiple media reports, Akpabio argued that borrowing for development projects is not unusual for governments and that Nigeria, like many countries, may need to access loans to fund large infrastructure projects when domestic revenue is insufficient.
Several reputable media organisations reported the statement, including:
These outlets carried reports and broadcast segments confirming that Akpabio defended the borrowing request and made comments suggesting that borrowing could be necessary for national development when funds were limited.
Here is the video evidence, published by Silverbird Television, where he made the statement published by PressExpress Nigeria.
Verdict
True.
Evidence from multiple credible media organisations confirms that Senate President Godswill Akpabio made statements, defending the government’s borrowing and indicating that Nigeria may need to borrow funds to finance major development projects when available resources are insufficient.
