The World Bank has approved $300 million in financing for Nigeria to boost resilience and expand access to essential services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities in the country’s conflict-affected northern states.
In a statement today, the Bank said the funding—approved on August 7, 2025, will support the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID), targeting selected local government areas worst hit by conflict-driven displacement.
The initiative is expected to reach up to 7.4 million people, including about 1.3 million IDPs, using an integrated development strategy aligned with Nigeria’s long-term growth plans.
Ongoing insecurity has displaced more than 3.5 million people in Northern Nigeria, straining local infrastructure, heightening competition for resources, and limiting economic opportunities.
Mathew Verghis, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, said the project will “help Nigeria address development challenges associated with protracted displacement in a sustainable way,” transitioning communities from dependence on aid to self-reliance.
The project will focus on climate-resilient infrastructure, social cohesion, livelihoods, and institutional capacity, and will be implemented through a coordinated, community-driven approach involving all tiers of government.
Nigeria’s total debt to the World Bank reached $18.23 billion by March 31, 2025, accounting for nearly 40% of the country’s external debt stock.
