Nigeria urges 'appropriate' debt solutions for middle-income countries

Nigerian Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed said an agreement by official bilateral creditors to suspend debt payments by the poorest countries harmed by the coronavirus pandemic was a welcome first step, but "appropriate" solutions were also needed for middle-income countries with debt challenges.

In remarks prepared for delivery on Friday at the World Bank's Development Committee, Ahmed urges the Bank and other multilateral institutions to explore ways of participating the debt relief initiative.

In the remarks, she also raises concerns about export restrictions that are resulting in shortages of medical supplies and food, warning they could cause hunger and social unrest in some developing countries.