The World Bank is poised to approve a $250 million loan for Nigeria in September under the third phase of its Health Security Programme for Western and Central Africa, as the country faces mounting health and economic challenges.
According to an official appraisal document, the loan is expected to be considered for approval by the World Bank’s board on September 23, 2025, and will aim to boost Nigeria’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies through stronger systems and regional partnerships.
The funding will be structured as an International Development Association credit, managed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control with the Federal Ministry of Finance as the borrowing agency.
Nigeria, with an estimated population of 223 million, is grappling with low life expectancy of only 54 years, maternal mortality rates exceeding 1,000 per 100,000 live births, and under-five mortality of 114 per 1,000. These contribute to over 800,000 child deaths and 80,000 maternal deaths annually.
The country’s health system is further strained by widespread infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and diarrhoeal illnesses, as well as the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, which directly caused over 64,500 deaths in 2019 and was associated with more than 263,000 others.
Widespread poverty, weak infrastructure, underfunding, and poor human capital development exacerbate these challenges, with 120 million Nigerians—about 54 percent of the population—living below the poverty line in 2024.
Despite these pressing needs, government spending on health remains among the lowest globally, at 0.62 percent of GDP and 4.1 percent of total government expenditure, translating to just $14 per capita. Out-of-pocket expenses account for more than three-quarters of health spending, severely restricting access to healthcare for millions.
The World Bank loan will support improvements in disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, emergency preparedness, and the continuity of health services during outbreaks.
It will also fund the expansion of public health infrastructure, such as emergency operations centers in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and the development of a national warehouse for medical supplies.
Part of the funds will be dedicated to strengthening pharmaceutical regulation and supporting local production of essential medicines, collaborating with national agencies.
Although Nigeria’s compliance with international health regulations has improved in recent years, significant gaps remain, particularly in legal frameworks, detection capacity, logistics, and coordination of critical health services, highlighting the urgency of continued investment and reform in the sector.
