The Federal Government is seeking fresh World Bank financing totalling $1.5bn for climate resilience, social protection and early childhood development, even as Nigeria’s total public debt climbs to a record N166.79tn.
The proposed borrowing comprises three separate $500m facilities, according to World Bank project documents. 
The loans are still at different stages of preparation and have not been approved by the World Bank. The proposals come against the backdrop of rising public debt and growing exposure to the multilateral lender.
ACReSAL gets $500m boost
The most advanced proposal is an additional $500m for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project, known as ACReSAL.
The World Bank has scheduled October 29, 2026, for its board to consider the proposed financing. If approved, the additional facility would increase ACReSAL’s total financing from $700m to $1.2bn.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the borrower, while the Federal Ministry of Environment would implement the project. The entire additional financing is expected to come from the International Development Association, the World Bank’s concessional lending arm.
The proposed funding would support landscape restoration, watershed rehabilitation, erosion and flood control, irrigation and drainage, water harvesting and storage, reforestation and other climate-resilience measures.
Of the proposed $500m, $310m is earmarked for dryland management, $165m for community climate resilience and $25m for institutional strengthening and project management.
ACReSAL currently operates across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on land degradation, water insecurity, climate vulnerability and declining agricultural productivity.
The World Bank has said desertification and land degradation affect a significant portion of Nigeria’s land area, while climate change poses substantial risks to economic growth and livelihoods.
$500m social protection facility
The second proposal is a $500m IDA credit for the Household Prosperity and Empowerment-Social Protection Project, known as HOPE-SP.
The project is at an earlier preparation stage, with a technical design review scheduled for October 30, 2026. The World Bank has tentatively set March 16, 2027, for approval.
The Federal Ministry of Finance is listed as the borrower, while the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction would implement the programme.
The proposed facility would comprise a $420m results-based financing component and $80m in investment project financing.
The programme is designed to strengthen social assistance for poor and vulnerable households, including targeted conditional and unconditional cash transfers.
It would also support the modernisation of Nigeria’s social registry, integration of the National Identification Number into the social protection information system and stronger implementation at federal, state and local government levels.
The World Bank noted that Nigeria’s social safety-net spending has historically been low compared with international and lower-middle-income country averages.
Third $500m targets early childhood development
The third proposed facility is another $500m for the Nigeria Early Childhood Development programme.
The project is expected to undergo its technical design review on October 30, 2026, with tentative World Bank board approval scheduled for March 15, 2027.
The Federal Ministry of Finance is listed as the borrower, while the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning would implement the programme.
The project would cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, targeting children aged zero to five.
It would support an integrated package of health, nutrition, early learning, childcare, water and sanitation services.
