Nigeria secures fresh $1.57b World Bank facility to support three projects

The Federal Government has secured $1.57 billion from the World Bank to execute three projects. The Nigerian office of the bank disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, saying the facility is meant to support Nigeria in addressing governance challenges in education and healthcare, improve primary healthcare services and support climate change adaptation through enhanced dam safety and irrigation infrastructure.

The financing package includes a $1.5 billion loan and $70 million grant and it is part of broader efforts to improve key sectors such as education, healthcare and water management while tackling poverty and boosting productivity, the World Bank said.

The HOPE-GOV programme, according to the breakdown, will receive $500 million to improve governance in the education and health sectors. The programme is designed to address underlying issues in financial and human resource management that have hindered service delivery.

It also disclosed that $570 million is earmarked for the Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Program (HOPE-PHC), an initiative pivotal to improving Nigeria’s healthcare system.

The programme focuses on reducing maternal and under-five mortality rates and enhancing the resilience of Nigeria’s health infrastructure. The HOPE-PHC will provide quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services.

A total of 40 million Nigerians, especially those in underserved areas, are expected to benefit from the programme. The initiative is funded by a $500 million International Development Association (IDA) credit, along with an additional $70 million grant from the Global Financing Facility (GFF).

The funds will help bridge gaps in primary healthcare financing while supporting sustainable financing for family planning. Another $500 million will be allocated to the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN), which aims to protect Nigeria from climate-induced challenges such as floods and droughts.

Through enhanced dam safety measures, improved water resource management and the expansion of irrigation services, the SPIN programme will benefit around 950,000 people, including farmers and livestock breeders.

The project is expected to help Nigeria to enhance its agricultural productivity through more reliable and efficient irrigation systems. Also, the SPIN includes plans to develop a master plan for hydropower generation, focusing on boosting energy production through public-private partnerships.

The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr Ndiamé Diop, said investing in the health and education of Nigerians is crucial for improving future employment opportunities, productivity and reducing poverty.

He stressed that the new financing would address the significant challenges Nigerians face, particularly women and girls, in accessing quality healthcare and services.

“Effective investment in the health and education of Nigerians today is central to increasing their future employment opportunities, productivity, and earnings while reducing poverty of the most vulnerable. This new financing for human capital and primary health care will help to address the complex difficulties faced by Nigerians, especially women and girls around access and quality of services, but also the governance arrangements that also explain these difficulties.

“The SPIN program is timely and will protect Nigerians from floods and droughts in the areas where it will be implemented while enabling an increase in hydropower generation. The direct positive impact of this project on people and livelihoods is enormous. The World Bank is pleased to work with the government and other stakeholders to deliver this programme,” he said.