By Our Reporter
The World Bank is set to approve two loans totaling $750 million for Nigeria on September 30, 2025, to boost digital infrastructure and public health security.
The BRIDGE project, led by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, seeks to expand broadband access to underserved communities through climate-resilient infrastructure. With a total cost of $1.6 billion, the World Bank will provide $500 million in concessional financing, alongside contributions from the African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and private investors.
The rollout plan encompasses over 125,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cables, regional networks, and edge data centres, all coordinated through a Special Purpose Vehicle in which the Federal Government holds a 51% equity stake.
The $250 million health facility, coordinated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, will enhance Nigeria’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies. The project aims to improve health system resilience, enable quicker epidemic detection, and strengthen emergency response coordination. It is part of a regional initiative to strengthen disease surveillance and emergency response across West and Central Africa, drawing lessons from COVID-19 and recent epidemics.
Nigeria has seen a rise in World Bank commitments, with $8.4 billion in new loans approved between June 2023 and August 2025 across various sectors, including energy, education, health, and governance. Of this, $6.5 billion came from concessional International Development Association loans, while $1.95 billion came from International Bank for Reconstruction and Development facilities.
While analysts welcome concessional funding, concerns remain over Nigeria’s mounting debt, which has grown from N87 trillion in 2023 to about N149 trillion and could reach N180 trillion. Economist Adewale Abimbola said outcomes depend on transparency. CSA Advisory CEO Dr. Aliyu Ilias cautioned that rising borrowings, despite increased revenues, raise sustainability risks.