Residents of Adaka community on the outskirts of Makurdi, the Benue state capitals, have joined the growing call for reforms to the global debt system, urging international lenders to reduce interest rates on loans to developing nations and suspend debt repayments during disasters and pandemics, and channel a portion of global Artificial Intelligence (AI) revenues into development projects across Africa.

The demands were made during a community advocacy programme organised by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria, where community members, local advocacy leaders and AHF officials highlighted the impact of rising debt servicing on healthcare, education and basic infrastructure in rural communities.

Speaking at the event, President of Advocacy Club Adaka, Mr. Moses Usuwe, said African countries continue to pay disproportionately higher interest rates on loans than developed nations, a situation he described as unfair and detrimental to development.

According to him, billions of people live in countries burdened by debt, with many African nations spending more on debt servicing than on essential public services.

“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,” Usuwe said.

He outlined three key demands by the community, including 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.

Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of Advocacy Club Adaka, Mrs. Eunice Idoko, linked Nigeria’s rising debt servicing obligations to the poor state of infrastructure in rural communities.

She lamented the acute water shortage in Adaka, saying 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,” she said.

“If government spends less on debt servicing because interest rates are reduced, more resources can be invested in critical infrastructure such as potable water.”

Another community advocate, Mrs. Richesl Uzo, appealed for debt repayment moratoriums for countries affected by health emergencies and natural disasters.
She argued 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, AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Mr. Steve Aborisade, said the organisation 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.

“We trained community members on advocacy because we believe communities should be able to speak for themselves on issues affecting them,” Aborisade said.

He noted that the campaign for global debt reform emerged from trends that shows many developing nations are under serious pressure from inequitable terms.

“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.

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 resources for governments to invest in healthcare, education, roads, water and other critical services.”

Aborisade also advocated automatic debt repayment pauses during emergencies.
“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 said.

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 organisation, please sustain it.”