A new World Bank report shows Nigeria spent ₦7.7 trillion on debt interest payments in the first half of 2026. That figure exceeded the ₦6.2 trillion the government earned in total revenue over the same period. The ₦1.5 trillion gap means the country paid out more in interest than it collected as income. So This Happened, the news review podcast, examined the numbers in its 436th episode. The episode walked listeners through the figures and the strain debt servicing places on government finances. A shortfall of this size leaves less money for capital projects and day-to-day services. The World Bank has repeatedly flagged Nigeria's narrow revenue base in past reports.