LAGOS — Nigeria spent N5.28 trillion servicing its domestic debt in the first half of 2026, according to data released on Thursday by the Debt Management Office (DMO). Interest and rental payments accounted for N4.95 trillion of the total, while N333.96 billion went into repaying principal on promissory notes. Of the principal repayments, N263.27 billion was on local-currency notes and N70.69 billion on foreign-currency notes. FGN bonds remained the biggest cost item, with interest payments of N3.35 trillion over the six months. Treasury Bills followed with N1.49 trillion, peaking in March at about N481.47 billion. Sukuk rentals amounted to N92.29 billion, while the FGN Savings Bond cost N8.90 billion and the green bond N5.56 billion. Monthly interest on bonds was highest in March at N792.34 billion, followed by February at N707.25 billion, April at N530.84 billion, June at N525.05 billion, January at N462.44 billion and May at N332.49 billion. Looking at total monthly debt service, March was again the most expensive month at N1.43 trillion. February came next at N967.67 billion, followed by June at N811.62 billion, April at N765.19 billion and January at N741.82 billion. May was the lowest at N567.16 billion. The figures come as Nigeria's total public debt stood at N166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026, close to 40 per cent of gross domestic product. Economists have raised concerns about the sustainability of the debt, noting that the rising cost of servicing it leaves less room in the budget for infrastructure, health, education and other priorities.