Benue community joins global push for fair debt reforms, seeks AI revenue support for Africa devt
By Scholastica Hir
Follow Us on Google
From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
Residents of Adaka community in Makurdi, Benue State, have intensified calls for reforms in the global debt system, demanding fairer lending conditions for developing countries, debt repayment pauses during pandemic and emergencies, and dedicated funding from Artificial Intelligence (AI) revenues to support development projects across Africa
The call was made during a community advocacy programme organised by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria, where participants decried the impact of rising debt servicing obligations on healthcare, education, water supply and other critical basic services in underserved communities
During the event, President of Advocacy Club Adaka, Mr. Moses Usuwe, lamented that African countries continue to pay disproportionately higher interest rates on loans than developed nations, a situation he described as unfair and detrimental to development
While noting that billions of people live in countries burdened by debt, with many African nations spending more on debt servicing than on essential public services, Asuwe said “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 outlined three key demands by the community which include the establishment of a Borrowers’ Forum for developing countries to negotiate collectively with creditors, the allocation of one per cent of AI-generated revenues to support education, healthcare and infrastructure in Africa, and automatic suspension of debt repayments whenever countries are hit by disasters or pandemics
“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
On her oart, the Public Relations Officer PRO, of Advocacy Club Adaka, Mrs. Eunice Idoko, linked Nigeria’s rising debt servicing obligations to the poor state of infrastructure in rural communities, lamenting acute water shortage among others in Adaka
According to her, women and children spend several hours daily searching for water. In Adaka, water remains a major 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 get to school late
“If government spends less on debt servicing because interest rates are reduced, more ree water.”
Another community advocate, Mrs. Recheal Uzo, appealed for debt repayment moratoriums for countries affected by health emergencies and natural disasters, arguing that governments battling pandemics or climate-related disasters should be allowed to prioritise emergency response instead of servicing external debts
Similarly, Mr. Abel Anule urged leading AI companies to dedicate one percent of their profits to support developing countries with investments in healthcare, education and social infrastructure
Explaining the rationale behind the advocacy campaign, Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager AHF Nigeria, Steve Aborisade said the organization works mainly in underserved rural communities where access to healthcare and other basic services remains limited
He explained that AHF established community advocacy clubs to enable residents identify their development challenges and engage government constructively
He said “We trained community members on advocacy because we believe communities should be able to speak for themselves on issues affecting them.”
Aborisade noted that the campaign for global debt reform emerged from trends that shows many developing nations are under serious pressure from inequitable terms, adding “We realized governments genuinely want to do more but are constrained by huge debt repayment obligations. Most African countries borrow because they need rean wealthier countries,” he said
According to him, forming a Borrowers’ Forum would strengthen the negotiating position of developing countries and help secure fairer loan conditions
“If we negotiate collectively, we can push for lower interest rates. That would free up re water and other critical services.”
Aborisade also advocated automatic debt repayment pauses during emergencies. He said “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 further urged governments and major AI companies to commit one percent of AI revenues to fund debt relief and investments in public health, education and social protection across developing countries
Highlighting the urgency of the campaign, Aborisade cited data showing that approximately 3.4 billion people live in countries spending 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
Speaking, Chief Nicholas Angbianshio of Mbagbaange community, commended AHF Nigeria for its far reaching interventions in various communities across the country saying “my subjects and I have benefited immensely from the good works of your organization, please sustain it.”
