The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a $300 million credit facility from the World Bank to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities across northern Nigeria.
The approval, announced after the FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is part of broader efforts to strengthen resilience and promote recovery in areas severely affected by conflict and displacement.
According to the World Bank, the facility will finance the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID), which targets up to 7.4 million beneficiaries, including about 1.3 million IDPs. The program aims to restore livelihoods, improve access to basic services, and build climate-resilient infrastructure in conflict-impacted local government areas.
The project also seeks to foster social cohesion between displaced persons and host communities by promoting shared development projects, supporting small-scale enterprises, and strengthening local institutions to manage displacement-related challenges.
“This initiative marks a shift from short-term humanitarian relief to sustainable development interventions,” the World Bank said in a statement. “It reflects Nigeria’s commitment to helping affected populations rebuild their lives and communities.”
The FEC also approved an additional $96 million in loans for health infrastructure in Sokoto State comprising $50 million from the Islamic Development Bank and $46 million from the African Development Bank to upgrade healthcare delivery in the region.
Northern Nigeria continues to face humanitarian pressures due to insecurity, banditry, and the long-running insurgency in the North-East. The influx of displaced persons has strained host communities, public services, and local economies.
Officials say the World Bank-funded SOLID project will help address these challenges by integrating humanitarian and development efforts, supporting long-term stability, and promoting inclusive growth.
The program’s implementation will be overseen by relevant ministries and state governments, with close monitoring to ensure transparency and accountability in fund utilization. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
