By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Residents of Adaka community on the outskirts of Makurdi, Benue State, have called on international financial institutions to reduce the high interest rates imposed on loans granted to developing countries, saying the current lending terms are crippling Africa’s development.
The community also demanded an automatic suspension of debt repayments for developing nations hit by natural disasters and disease outbreaks, arguing that governments should prioritise emergency response over servicing external debts during crises.
The appeal was made during a community advocacy programme organised by AIDS Healthcare Foundation Nigeria, where residents joined the global campaign urging governments and leading Artificial Intelligence companies to dedicate one per cent of global AI revenues to development projects across Africa.
The residents lamented that rising debt servicing obligations had continued to deprive rural communities of quality healthcare, education and basic infrastructure.
President of Advocacy Club Adaka, Moses Usuwe, described the disparity in global lending terms as unjust, noting that African countries paid far higher interest rates than developed nations.
“We are advocating freedom from unjust debt burdens. African countries are paying higher interest rates than developed nations. We believe there should be equity in the global lending system,” he said.
Usuwe called for the establishment of a Borrowers’ Forum to enable developing countries negotiate collectively with creditors, the allocation of one per cent of AI-generated revenues to education, healthcare and infrastructure in Africa, and automatic debt repayment suspension for countries affected by floods, pandemics and other disasters.
“When countries experience floods, disease outbreaks like COVID-19 or Ebola, or any major disaster, debt repayment should be suspended until they recover,” he added.
The Public Relations Officer of Advocacy Club Adaka, Eunice Idoko, linked Nigeria’s mounting debt servicing costs to poor infrastructure in rural communities, lamenting the acute shortage of potable water in Adaka.
She said women and children spent between four and five hours daily searching for water, a situation that affected school attendance.
“In Adaka, water remains a big challenge. Women wake up as early as 4am just to fetch one bucket of water and may not return until 8 or 9am. This affects our children who go to school late.
“If government spends less on debt servicing because interest rates are reduced, more resources can be invested in the provision of critical amenities such as potable water,” she said.
Another community advocate, Rachel Uzo, urged creditors to grant debt repayment moratoriums to countries battling health emergencies and climate-related disasters.
Also, Abel Anule appealed to major AI companies to dedicate one per cent of their profits to healthcare, education and social infrastructure in developing countries.
AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade, said the organisation established community advocacy clubs to empower residents to identify local challenges and engage governments constructively.
“We trained community members on advocacy because we believe communities should be able to speak for themselves on issues affecting them,” he said.
Aborisade explained that the campaign for global debt reform was driven by growing evidence that many developing countries were trapped by unfair lending conditions.
“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 wealthier countries,” he said.
He maintained that a Borrowers’ Forum would strengthen the negotiating power of developing nations and help secure fairer loan 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.
Aborisade also backed automatic suspension of debt repayments during emergencies, arguing that countries facing pandemics or natural disasters should not be forced to choose between saving lives and repaying loans.
He further called on governments and major AI companies to commit one per cent of AI revenues to debt relief and investments in public health, education and social protection.
Citing available data, he said about 3.4 billion people lived in countries spending more on debt repayments than on health or education, while two out of every three African countries spent 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 fair repayment terms that leave room for development and improve the lives of ordinary people,” Aborisade added.
Also speaking, the Chief of Mbagbaange community, Nicholas Angbianshio, commended AHF Nigeria for its interventions in underserved communities across the country.
“My subjects and I have benefited immensely from the good works of your organisation. I urge you to sustain the support,” the traditional ruler said.
