World Bank Approves £230 Million To Support Displaced Persons In Northern Nigeria.
The World Bank has authorised a £230 million ($300 million) financing package to bolster resilience and enhance access to essential services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their host communities in Northern Nigeria. The announcement, made on August 7, 2025, marks a significant commitment to addressing the humanitarian crisis in the region, where over 3.5 million people have been displaced due to ongoing conflict and insecurity.
The initiative, named the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID), targets conflict-affected Local Government Areas in states such as Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, and Gombe. It aims to benefit up to 7.4 million people, including approximately 1.3 million IDPs, by improving access to basic services like healthcare, education, and clean water, while fostering economic opportunities through sustainable livelihoods programmes. The project builds on the earlier Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project, shifting focus from short-term relief to long-term, climate-resilient development.
World Bank Country Director Mathew Verghis praised the initiative, stating it aligns with Nigeria’s National IDP Policy and promotes a transition from humanitarian dependency to self-reliance. The funding will support the construction of climate-resilient infrastructure, strengthen social cohesion through community-driven planning, and enhance institutional capacities to manage displacement-related pressures. Task Team Leaders Fuad Malkawi and Christopher Johnson highlighted the project’s role in closing infrastructure gaps and steering the region towards stability and inclusive growth.
The approval comes amid Nigeria’s broader engagement with the World Bank, which includes plans for additional loans totalling £1.25 billion ($1.65 billion) in 2025 to support education, nutrition, and digital infrastructure. Northern Nigeria’s displacement crisis, driven by insurgencies such as Boko Haram, has strained local resources, increased competition for services, and heightened vulnerability to natural disasters like flooding. The SOLID project is expected to alleviate these pressures by empowering both IDPs and host communities.
The Federal Government has welcomed the financing, with officials urging swift implementation to ensure tangible benefits for affected populations. Stakeholders, including local leaders and humanitarian organisations, have been encouraged to collaborate closely to maximise the project’s impact. This development signals a renewed international commitment to supporting Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities, offering hope for a more resilient future.
