By Ngozi Onyeakusi—he Debt Management Office (DMO) has disclosed that Nigeria’s total debt stock has risen by N191bn in the first quarter of this year. The DMIO said the debt stock rose to N33.107tn as of the end of March 2021 from N32.916tn in December 2020. It said the country’s external debt however reduced due to the redemption by Nigeria of the $500m Eurobond in January. The debt office said, “Total public debt stock, which comprises the debt stock of the Federal Government of Nigeria, 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory, stood at N33.107tn or $87.239bn. “The debt stock also includes promissory notes in the sum of N940.22bn issued to settle the inherited arrears of the FGN to state governments, oil marketing companies, exporters and local contractors. “Compared to the total public debt stock of N32.92tn as at December 31, 2020, the increase in the debt stock was marginal at 0.58 per cent.” A further analysis of the public debt stock showed that the domestic debt stock grew by 2.11 per cent from N20.21tn in December 2020 to N20.637tn as of the end of March 31, 2021.