Nigeria’s domestic debt profile has revealed that the Federal Government raised N100 billion through the Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund. This is according to the latest data from the Debt Management Office (DMO).
Figures from the DMO’s domestic debt stock report show that the instrument listed as “UFTF FGN Security” stood at N100 billion as of December 31, 2025. This accounts for about 0.12% of total domestic debt, signalling the formal integration of unclaimed private funds into the government’s borrowing framework.
Domestic debt structure dominated by bonds
The report puts total Federal Government domestic debt at N80.49 trillion, with conventional instruments still accounting for the overwhelming share of borrowings.
FGN Bonds remained dominant at N63.63 trillion, representing 79.06% of the total debt stock. This category includes standard naira bonds, securitised Ways and Means advances, and US dollar-denominated bonds. Treasury Bills followed with N13.85 trillion or 17.21%, reinforcing their role in short-term liquidity management.
Other instruments played relatively minor roles. Promissory Notes stood at N1.54 trillion or 1.92%, while Sukuk bonds accounted for N1.19 trillion or 1.48%. Savings Bonds and Green Bonds contributed marginal shares of 0.13% and 0.08%, respectively.
Against this backdrop, the N100 billion raised via UFTF remains small in size but significant in implication, as it represents funds originally belonging to private investors and bank customers that have been repurposed into public debt.
How unclaimed funds became government debt
The UFTF structure originates from the Finance Act 2020, which created a legal pathway for the government to warehouse unclaimed dividends and dormant bank balances.
