The World Bank is set to approve two major loans totaling $750 million for Nigeria on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
The funding will support healthcare system improvements and the expansion of digital infrastructure in underserved areas. According to the World Bank’s official website, the loans will focus on improving Nigeria’s healthcare security and expanding access to climate-resilient digital infrastructure.
The package includes $500 million for the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth in Nigeria (BRIDGE) project and $250 million for the Health Security Programme in Western and Central Africa, Nigeria – Phase II. The BRIDGE project aims to expand broadband access to rural and remote areas, while the health program targets strengthening disease surveillance, pandemic response, and national health security infrastructure.
Lagos-based economist Adewale Abimbola said, “Borrowing isn’t inherently bad. If it’s concessionary and tied to viable, revenue-generating projects, then it’s a smart move. The key is in implementation and accountability.” Abimbola emphasized that such projects must demonstrate long-term economic benefits, including growth stimulation, improved services, and strengthened public sector performance.
The $750 million loan package comes amid a sharp rise in Nigeria’s borrowing from the World Bank. Between June 2023 and August 2025, the country secured $8.4 billion in fresh loans across 15 projects, covering energy, education, health, rural development, and governance. Economists remain divided on the implications of continued borrowing, with some warning that Nigeria’s rising debt stock, now at approximately N149 trillion, could limit fiscal flexibility and strain public investment.
The World Bank’s concessional loan will provide a substantial anchor for the BRIDGE project, with the balance expected from the African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and private investors. The African Development Bank has already pledged $200 million to BRIDGE, while European and Middle Eastern lenders are reportedly lining up to participate.
Nigeria’s debt to the World Bank reached $18.23 billion as of March 31, 2025, representing nearly 40% of the country’s external debt stock. Despite concerns over rising debt levels, policymakers maintain that the loans are critical to bridging Nigeria’s infrastructure and social gaps. The BRIDGE project is expected to unlock productivity gains across agriculture, commerce, and education, while the health security loan aims to save lives and reduce the economic toll of public health emergencies.
The loan package aligns with Nigeria’s broader economic reform agenda under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which prioritizes fiscal consolidation, industrialization, and social protection. Stakeholders believe that the World Bank loan could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s quest to restore economic stability and achieve long-term development.
