The World Bank is set to approve a total of $2.2 billion in new loans for Nigeria in 2025, with the funds allocated across six key projects aimed at strengthening various sectors of the country’s economy.
According to the World Bank’s project list, the funding will support initiatives in education, health, digital infrastructure, and community resilience.
A breakdown of the planned loans shows that $500 million has been earmarked for the Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Programme, scheduled for approval on March 17.
Additionally, the HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All project is expected to receive $552 million, while Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria 2.0 will get $800 million—both set for approval on March 31.
Further allocations include $300 million for the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (July 15), another $300 million for the Health Security Program (August 19), and $500 million for the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE) project (September 15).
The World Bank noted that both the BRIDGE initiative and the Health Security Program are still in the early stages of assessment, currently undergoing concept reviews.
Nigeria’s Rising Loan Exposure
Nigeria’s loan exposure to the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) stood at $17.1 billion as of November 19, 2024, ranking the country as the third-largest borrower. However, by December 31, 2024, this figure had slightly dropped to $16.8 billion, though Nigeria retained its position among the top debtors.
While the new loans are expected to support critical development projects, concerns about Nigeria’s growing debt profile remain a subject of debate among economic analysts and policymakers.