Foundation Advocates Debt Relief To Improve Healthcare, Education

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has intensified its advocacy for reforms to the global sovereign debt system, calling for fairer lending terms and debt relief measures that would enable developing countries to invest more in healthcare, education and other critical sectors.

The organisation made the call during a community advocacy programme held in Adaka community on the outskirts of Makurdi, Benue State, where residents, local advocacy leaders and development stakeholders discussed the impact of rising debt servicing on public service delivery and economic development.

AHF Nigeria urged international lenders to reduce interest rates on loans to developing countries, suspend debt repayments during disasters and pandemics, establish a Borrowers’ Forum to strengthen the negotiating power of developing nations, and dedicate one per cent of global Artificial Intelligence (AI) revenues to support development initiatives across Africa.

Speaking at the event, AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Mr. Steve Aborisade, said the current global debt structure places an unfair burden on developing countries, limiting their ability to fund healthcare, education, infrastructure and other essential services.

He noted that while many African countries borrow to finance development projects, they often face significantly higher interest rates than wealthier nations.

“We realised governments genuinely want to do more but are constrained by huge debt repayment obligations. Most African countries borrow because they need resources for development, yet they pay far higher interest rates than developed countries,” he said.

Aborisade explained that AHF’s campaign seeks to promote a more equitable global financial system that allows governments to prioritise investments in their citizens without being overwhelmed by debt servicing obligations.

He said establishing a Borrowers’ Forum would enable developing countries to negotiate collectively with creditors for more favourable lending conditions.

“If we negotiate collectively, we can push for lower interest rates. That would free up resources for governments to invest in healthcare, education, roads, water and other critical services,” he said.

The AHF official also advocated automatic debt repayment moratoriums during health emergencies, pandemics and natural disasters, arguing that governments should not be compelled to continue servicing external debts while responding to humanitarian crises.

“When countries face pandemics, floods or other disasters, they should be allowed to suspend loan repayments until they recover. Every dollar spent servicing debt during a crisis is money unavailable for healthcare and emergency response,” he added.

He further called on governments and leading AI companies to commit one per cent of AI-generated revenues to debt relief and investments in healthcare, education and social protection across developing countries.

Highlighting the urgency of the campaign, Aborisade cited data indicating that about 3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt repayments than on health or education, while two out of every three African countries spend more on debt interest than on healthcare.

“Africa is not poor; it is being drained. We are not asking for debt cancellation. We are asking for fairer repayment terms that leave room for development and improve the lives of ordinary people,” he said.

Aborisade said AHF established community advocacy clubs in underserved communities to empower residents to identify development challenges and engage governments through constructive advocacy.

“We trained community members on advocacy because we believe communities should be able to speak for themselves on issues affecting them,” he said.

Community leaders at the event endorsed the campaign and called for a fairer global lending system.

President of Advocacy Club Adaka, Mr. Moses Usuwe, said African countries continue to bear disproportionate debt burdens due to high lending costs, while the club’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Eunice Idoko, noted that reducing debt servicing would allow governments to invest more in basic infrastructure such as potable water, healthcare and education.

Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Mbagbaange community, Chief Nicholas Angbianshio, commended AHF Nigeria for its sustained interventions in communities across the country and urged the organisation to continue its advocacy and development programmes aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable populations.