President Bola Tinubu has written to the National Assembly, seeking approval of a fresh N1.767 trillion, the equivalent of $2.209 billion as a new external borrowing plan in the 2024 appropriation act.

Channelstv reports that if approved, the loan will be used to part-finance the deficit of N9.7tn for the 2024 budget.

Channels further reports that the president’s request was read by the speaker during plenary on Tuesday.

The president has also forwarded the MTEF/ FSP 2025- 2027 to parliament and the National Social Investment Programme establishment amendment bill, to make the social register the primary tool for the implementation of the federal government’s social welfare programmes.

This is as the Central Bank of Nigeria recently said the Federal Government spent $3.58 billion servicing the country’s foreign debt in the first nine months of 2024.