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Nigeria to repay $500m health loan in 25 years – World Bank

The Federal Government will begin repaying a $500m concessional loan secured from the International Development Association from 2029 to 2054.
This is according to a financing agreement signed between Nigeria and the World Bank’s lending arm, which was obtained by Sunday PUNCH.
The loan, which falls under the Nigeria Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening (also referred to as HOPE-PHC) Programme, is aimed at improving the country’s primary healthcare services, particularly maternal and child health, emergency medical care, and pandemic preparedness.
The funds will be managed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, alongside key agencies such as the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, the National Health Insurance Authority, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
State governments will also be involved in implementation through their respective Ministries of Health, Primary Healthcare Development Boards, and other agencies.
Details of the repayment structure show that the loan will be serviced twice a year, with instalments due every April 15 and October 15.
Between 2029 and 2049, Nigeria will repay the principal at a rate of 1.65 per cent annually, after which the rate will increase to 3.40 per cent from 2049 until 2054.
The loan also attracts a commitment charge of 0.5 per cent on unwithdrawn funds and a service charge of 0.75 per cent on withdrawn balances.
However, the total repayment cost may fluctuate due to currency conversion adjustments. The funds will be disbursed based on specific healthcare performance indicators, ensuring that money is released only upon achieving measurable results.
These indicators include increasing access to primary healthcare services, expanding emergency obstetric and neonatal care, improving the supply of essential medicines, and strengthening Nigeria’s pandemic response framework.
A significant portion of the funds will also be used to enhance digital health infrastructure, improve climate resilience in the health sector, and ensure greater enrolment of vulnerable populations in health insurance schemes.
Despite the concessional terms, concerns have been raised over Nigeria’s growing external debt and rising debt servicing obligations. Given the continued depreciation of the naira, the real cost of repayment in local currency could rise significantly over the loan’s 25-year repayment duration.
The loan was approved on September 26, 2024, with an expected operational period starting in fiscal year 2025. The closing date is set for June 30, 2029, indicating that the programme will run for about four years, if the closing date is not extended.
However, the country will spend about 25 years repaying the loan from the proposed closing of 2029 to 2054.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the World Bank may approve a total of $1.13bn in loans for Nigeria before the end of March 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to support the country’s economic resilience, health security, and education reforms.
Among the projects set for negotiation is the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria 2.0 programme, valued at $80m, which is expected to be approved by March 31, 2025.
This initiative is aimed at improving nutrition outcomes, particularly among vulnerable groups, by enhancing access to essential dietary support and reducing malnutrition rates.
Another project in the negotiation phase is the Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Programme, which has a commitment value of $500m and is expected to be approved by March 24, 2025.
The project is designed to provide economic stimulus for community-driven initiatives to strengthen economic resilience and growth.
The HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All programme, with a proposed funding of $552.2m, is also at the negotiation stage and is expected to secure approval by March 31, 2025.
This initiative seeks to improve the quality of basic education by addressing infrastructure deficits, enhancing teacher training, and increasing educational accessibility across the country.
The potential approval of these loans comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with economic challenges, including foreign exchange liquidity constraints, fiscal deficits, and mounting debt servicing obligations.
Nigeria expended a total of $5.47bn on external debt servicing between January 2024 and February 2025, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The figures, published on the apex bank’s website, indicate the growing burden of debt obligations on the country’s external reserves and fiscal stability.
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Enugu Reps PDP Caucus Welcomes LP Members To Its Fold

Members of the Enugu State Caucus of Peoples Democratic Party, ( PDP) in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji , Rt. Hon. Martins Oke and Hon Anayo Onwuegbu have welcomed Rt. Hon. Dennis Agbo and Hon. Chidi Mark Obeta of Labour Party, (LP) to the PDP fold.
They observed that the visionary leadership of Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mba in Enugu State has ignited massive decamps and unprecedented upsurge of membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the state.
The caucus in a statement issued after the two members of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Dennis Agbo of Igboeze North/ Udenu and Chidi Mark Obeta who represents Nsukka/Igboeze South formally announced their transfer of membership to PDP at the resumption of House plenary on Tuesday said it was gladdening to receive them into the PDP fold.
They stressed that PDP in Enugu State was witnessing a great rebirth as a result of the transformative development agenda being unleashed in various sectors of the economy of the state by Governor Mba which has received global commendations.
The Enugu State caucus Leader, Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji on behalf of the members further noted that Governor Mba’s investments in infrastructure, agro economy, and security among others have made Enugu State a tourist’s haven adding that with the good governance structure he has put in place, his second tenure would be a walkover.
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2025 budget: Tinubu Seeks NASS Approval For N1.784trn FCT Statutory Budget

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Finally , DTHA becomes one party assembly as Speaker, 21 other PDP members defect to APC

Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, along with twenty-one other former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), elected into the Assembly has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a major realignment of political stakeholders across the state.
The defection of the twenty-two lawmakers has effectively transformed the Delta State House of Assembly into a one-party legislature, as the remaining seven members were originally elected on the ticket of the APC.
Announcing the development on Tuesday during the resumption of plenary after the Easter break, the Speaker stated that the decision was the result of extensive consultations with their constituents and political leaders throughout the state.
He emphasized that the move aligned with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
While expressing appreciation to members for their contributions so far, Guwor urged the House to ensure the completion of all pending bills as the second legislative session nears its end.
He noted that the political shift towards the APC was in response to the realignment of stakeholders and the desire to align with the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
“The mass defection of members of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to the All Progressives Congress was made in the overall interest of Deltans and the state,” the Speaker said.
He explained that the decision followed extensive consultations held on April 23 and which cumulated on the official reception on April 28, 2025, at the Government House and the Cenotaph, respectively.
He said: “We are fully committed to partnering with the Federal Government to deliver greater development to Deltans.
“On behalf of the House, I commend the courage and visionary leadership of our Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in making this strategic and timely decision.
“As a legislative body, we stand with His Excellency in this endeavour. This renewed partnership between the state and Federal Government must be supported and allowed to flourish, so that we can begin to enjoy its benefits in the shortest possible time.”
He informed the House that he had received twenty-two letters (including his own) notifying of the change of party affiliation from the PDP to the APC.
The defection, he said, was driven by instability within the PDP’s national leadership and factional divisions within the South-South Zonal Executive Committee, leading to internal conflicts and disunity within the party.
Citing Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Speaker affirmed the constitutional basis for the defection.
“With this action, the Delta State House of Assembly is now composed entirely of members from the All Progressives Congress. We thank our constituents for endorsing this progressive course of action”.
A motion to adopt the letters of party change was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and seconded by Hon. Ferguson Onwo, who represents Isoko South II.
Speaking to journalists after the plenary, the Majority Leader, Hon Emeka Nwaobi reiterated that the defection was prompted by the crisis within the PDP.
“Our decision was based on the instability at the national level and the factionalization at the South-South level. Consequently, we chose to move to the ruling All Progressives Congress, in accordance with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” he said.
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