External debt service in Nigeria has a negative impact on economic growth, mainly due to resource depletion. The study used a quantitative approach to analyze data from 1981 to 2020, finding that debt service hinders growth. However, the relationship is not statistically significant. It was also noted that the ratio of debt service to exports has a positive effect on growth. The study suggests that policymakers should carefully weigh the benefits of taking on external debt against the costs of servicing that debt to ensure it is beneficial for the country's economy.