Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines with advocacy calls.

1. ‘Nigeria’s World Bank debt may hit $9.2 billion as federal government eyes six loans’ – Punch

The Federal Government is set to secure six new loans totalling $2.23 billion from the World Bank in 2025 as the international financial institution continues to support the country’s economic and structural reforms.

Our Take: Another round of World Bank loans, another cycle of debt for future generations to inherit. At this rate, should we start including loan repayment plans in our children’s school curriculum? If these billions are truly for critical sectors, Nigerians must demand full transparency. Where exactly is the money going, and how will it genuinely improve lives? Without clear accountability, these loans might just end up financing luxury SUVs and endless ‘capacity-building workshops’ instead of roads, hospitals, and schools.

2. ‘Tinubu okays one trillion naira financing for states to strengthen primary healthcare systems’ – The Guardian

President Bola Tinubu has approved a $1.2 billion performance-based financing initiative for state governments to strengthen PHCs by recruiting health workers and improving services.

Our Take: That approval for primary healthcare sounds impressive on paper, but without proper monitoring, will it truly reach the grassroots or just disappear into the usual black hole of mismanaged funds? We urge state governments to be accountable and ensure this money translates into functional PHCs, well-equipped facilities, and properly paid health workers, not just inflated contracts and abandoned projects.

3. ‘National Bureau of Statistics: Aided by non-oil sector, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.40 percent in 2024, 3.84 percent in Q4’ –  ThisDayLive

Nigeria’s annual GDP growth stood at 3.40 percent in 2024, from 2.74 percent in 2023, the NBS disclosed yesterday.

Our Take: While the government celebrates this GDP growth as a triumph, ordinary Nigerians still grapple with skyrocketing food prices, erratic power supply, and an economy that seems to favor only the elite. If the economy is truly growing at its ‘fastest pace in three years’, can the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, kindly explain why the common man’s wallet is shrinking at an even faster rate? Or is this just another case of statistics thriving while citizens barely survive?