The World Bank has approved three new financing operations totaling $1.57 billion to assist the Nigerian Federal Government in strengthening key sectors, including human capital, healthcare, and climate resilience.
The financial package includes $500 million for improving governance in education and health (HOPE-GOV), $570 million for bolstering primary healthcare services (HOPE-PHC), and $500 million for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN).
The combined efforts of the HOPE-GOV and HOPE-PHC programs aim to address governance and service delivery in basic education and healthcare, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for women, children, and adolescents. These programs will ensure better transparency in financing and enhance recruitment and performance management for healthcare workers and teachers.
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The SPIN project will tackle the effects of climate change, focusing on improving dam safety and irrigation in critical regions. The project will benefit close to a million people by providing reliable irrigation and increased agricultural productivity, while also supporting hydropower initiatives.
Dr. Ndiamé Diop, World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, emphasized the importance of these investments, noting their potential to improve employment opportunities, productivity, and poverty reduction, particularly for vulnerable populations such as women and girls.
