News
W’Bank Plans $250m Health Loan For Nigeria, Sept
World Bank may approve a $250m loan to Nigeria next month under the third phase of its Health Security Programme in Western and Central Africa as the country battles mounting health and economic challenges.
According to an appraisal document published by the global lender, the proposed loan, which is scheduled for board approval on September 23, 2025, will be channelled towards improving Nigeria’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to health emergencies through strengthened systems and regional collaboration.
The World Bank document noted that the objective of the loan project is to “increase regional collaboration and health system capacities to prevent, detect and respond to health emergencies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The funding, which will come in the form of an International Development Association credit, is expected to be managed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, with the Federal Ministry of Finance serving as borrower.
According to the World Bank document, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with an estimated 223 million people, is facing some of the worst health outcomes globally. Life expectancy remains at a low 54 years, maternal mortality exceeds 1,000 per 100,000 live births, and under-five mortality is 114 per 1,000.
These translate to over 800,000 child deaths and 80,000 maternal deaths annually. The country’s health system is further strained by the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, which was directly responsible for more than 64,500 deaths in 2019 and associated with over 263,000 others.
Six of Nigeria’s top ten causes of death are infectious diseases, including malaria, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and diarrhoeal diseases. These public health concerns are compounded by widespread poverty, weak infrastructure, underfunding and poor human capital development.
The World Bank estimates that 120 million Nigerians, or 54 per cent of the population, were living below the poverty line in 2024. Despite its health crisis, government expenditure on healthcare remains one of the lowest globally at just 0.62 per cent of GDP and 4.1 per cent of general government spending.
This translates to approximately $14 per capita, with less than $3 of that allocated to primary healthcare. As a result, out-of-pocket health spending by households reached 76.24 per cent in 2021, ranking among the highest in the world and severely limiting access to care for millions of Nigerians.
Compounding these challenges is the growing frequency of climate-related disasters, which are predicted to cause $399bn in health-related economic losses by 2050, according to World Bank estimates.
The proposed $250m health facility will be used to improve disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, emergency preparedness and health service continuity during outbreaks.
The project will also expand public health infrastructure, including emergency operations centres across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and develop a national warehouse for emergency medical supplies.
Part of the funds will also support Nigeria’s efforts to improve pharmaceutical regulation and stimulate local manufacturing of essential medicines in partnership with agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development.
The World Bank document reveals that Nigeria’s public health response remains fragile despite some improvements. While the country’s overall score in the 2023 Joint External Evaluation of International Health Regulations core capacities rose to 54 per cent from 39 per cent in 2017, significant gaps persist.
Legal frameworks remain inadequate, detection capacity is geographically limited, and logistics for emergency response are weak, especially at the subnational level. Surveillance systems remain fragmented, and critical veterinary and environmental health services lack coordination and funding.
The project aims to improve collaborative surveillance systems by integrating platforms such as the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System for human health and the National Animal Disease Information System for animal health.
Investments will also be made in ICT equipment, training and community-based health services, particularly at the local government level. The initiative will seek to enhance women’s participation in epidemiological training and leadership in response to the gender disparities revealed during past health emergencies such as the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks.
While the loan proposal is being finalised, the environmental and social risk of the project has been rated as substantial. Implementation will be coordinated by the NCDC through a National Project Coordination Unit with oversight from a National Steering Committee chaired by the Coordinating Minister for Health and co-chaired by the Ministers of Finance, Environment and Livestock Development.
At the state level, a similar structure will be established, led by the State Commissioner for Health and supported by local coordination units. Only states that meet eligibility requirements, including formal expressions of interest, counterpart funding, and adoption of national health security policies, will be allowed to participate.
Meanwhile, data from the Debt Management Office showed that Nigeria’s total debt to the World Bank rose to $18.23bn as of March 31, 2025. This marks a $420m increase in just three months since December 2024, when Nigeria’s total exposure to the World Bank stood at $17.81bn.
The DMO data showed that borrowings from the International Development Association, the concessional financing arm of the World Bank, rose from $16.56bn in December 2024 to $16.99bn in March 2025.
At the same time, loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development — the non-concessional lending window of the World Bank — remained unchanged at $1.24bn. In total, the World Bank Group now accounts for $18.23bn, or about 39.7 per cent of Nigeria’s total external debt stock, which stood at $45.98bn as of March 2025.
This reflects a marginal increase in the World Bank’s share of the debt portfolio, up from 38.9 per cent recorded in December 2024 and 36.4 per cent at the end of 2023. Further analysis indicates that the World Bank now constitutes 81.2 per cent of Nigeria’s total multilateral debt, which reached $22.43bn in Q1 2025.
This represents a rise from the 79.8 per cent share recorded at the end of 2024 and underlines the central role the institution continues to play in Nigeria’s financing framework.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has demanded quick and full resolution to the challenges arising from the gas leakage that occurred in Bille, Degema Local Government Area of the State.
The governor has also pledged to upgrade the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Bille with a view to addressing the health challenges confronting the community.
Fubara made the pledge on Wednesday at the Government House, Port Harcourt during an enlarged meeting of key stakeholders, comprising representatives of the Federal Government, the state government and leaders of the community.
The meeting was held to review the situation in the community and explore available opportunities to save the people from the adverse impacts of environmental pollution.
Addressing the journalists at the end of the meeting, the governor acknowledged the determination of the Federal Government and its agencies to get to the root cause of the problem in Bille and ensure that it is resolved permanently.
“The meeting is in respect of the situation in Bille. You’re aware that there is a case of gas leakage somewhere in Bille and the people have been making some requests that the government should come to their rescue to resolve the situation.
“As a state, we have gone to see the situation in the community, not alone but in conjunction with the industry operators and officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. What we are doing today is an enlarged meeting where all the parties are sitting together to look at the cause of the issue and the most possible way to get the problem resolved,” he said.
Fubara described the outcome of the meeting as successful, stressing that more action would be taken in the next couple of weeks to ensure that the issue is fully resolved.
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, who led the Federal Government’s delegation to the meeting, expressed appreciation to the governor for his warm hospitality and efforts to address the challenge in Bille community.
Ekpo explained that contrary to the perception in certain quarters, the Federal Government has not been silent over the “gas seepage” but has been working tirelessly towards finding a sustainable solution.
The minister explained that as soon as the incident was reported, the Federal Government deployed experts to the area to understudy the cause of the problem.
According to him, it was difficult at first to understand the cause of the problem since there were no oil or gas infrastructure within the vicinity of the incident, hence the need to conduct a more detailed investigation.
“The investigation is still going but we decided to do a follow-up visit to the area to talk to the people of Bille Community that we need collaboration on their part so that we would be able to arrive at a lasting solution.
“The safety of the people is paramount. We can understand their anxiety, the worry and the danger that this thing poses within the area, but the Federal Government is committed to finding a lasting solution to the problem. The primary responsibility of government is to take care of the welfare and security of the people and that is exactly why we are here to go and see things for ourselves,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, also explained that as the regulatory agency at the centre of the issue, no effort will be spared in the task of resolving the issue.
Eyesan pledged that the NUPRC and operators in the industry were prepared to address the requests of the impacted people in terms of the provision of potable water and fire trucks to the community.
The Public Relations Officer, Council of Chiefs, Bille Kingdom, Chief Rena Dappa, had during the meeting, presented the challenges facing the community and pleaded for government’s support to save the lives and livelihoods of the people.
President Bola Tinubu has announced the launch of a training programme for 5,000 young Nigerians as meter installers and technicians under the Presidential Metering Initiative.
The President stated that the scheme is aimed at creating jobs, closing the country’s metering gap and improving electricity supply.
The President disclosed this in a statement on his verified X handle yesterday, describing the initiative, tagged “The Power Force,” as part of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expand employment opportunities for young people.
According to Tinubu, the programme will equip participants with practical technical skills and connect them to employment opportunities in Nigeria’s power sector.
“Through the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), which I established to close Nigeria’s metering gap, end estimated billing, protect consumers and strengthen the electricity market, we are opening a new pathway for 5,000 young Nigerians to be trained as meter installers and technicians under The Power Force. This programme is about jobs, skills and dignity,” he said.
Tinubu said the training would be open to eligible Nigerians who have completed their secondary school education, with a dedicated quota reserved for members of the National Youth Service Corps.
He noted that expanding electricity metering was critical to improving service delivery and promoting transparency in the power sector.
“When homes and businesses are properly metered, Nigerians can pay for what they actually use. When electricity distribution companies collect revenues more transparently and fairly, they are better able to reduce losses, maintain infrastructure, expand connections and invest in better service.
“This is how we build a power sector that is fairer to consumers, stronger for investors and better able to deliver reliable electricity to the Nigerian people,” the President said.
Tinubu said he had directed the Presidential Metering Initiative to work with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, and other relevant stakeholders to commence the programme within the next 30 days.
He encouraged qualified young Nigerians to apply, saying the initiative would provide them with marketable skills while supporting efforts to eliminate estimated billing and improve electricity access nationwide.
“I encourage eligible young Nigerians to apply. Join The Power Force. Learn a skill. Earn with dignity. Help us end estimated billing and be part of the work to light up Nigeria,” he added.
The Federal Government has announced that the third evacuation flight for Nigerians voluntarily returning from South Africa will arrive Lagos today having departed Johannesburg at midnight yesterday with 271 returnees on board.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday by its spokesperson, Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
According to the ministry, the Air Peace-operated flight is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026.
It said the evacuation is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the voluntary return of Nigerians from South Africa.
“The third evacuation flight operated by Air Peace will depart Johannesburg today by 12 midnight with 271 returnees. The estimated time of arrival in Lagos is 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026,” the statement read.
The latest batch of returnees follows earlier evacuation flights that brought hundreds of Nigerians back to the country under the Federal Government’s voluntary repatriation programme.
