The Federal Government has opened discussions with the World Bank for three new financing facilities worth a combined $1.5 billion, even as Nigeria’s total public debt climbed to N166.79 trillion at the end of June 2026.
The proposed facilities consist of three separate $500 million loans targeting climate resilience, social protection and early childhood development.
The first is an additional $500 million financing for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project. The World Bank has tentatively scheduled October 29, 2026, for its board to consider the proposal.
The Federal Government would be the borrower, while the Federal Ministry of Environment would implement the project.
If approved, the additional financing would increase ACReSAL’s total funding from $700 million to $1.2 billion. The facility would be financed through the International Development Association, the World Bank’s concessional financing arm.
The proposed ACReSAL funding would support landscape restoration, watershed rehabilitation, erosion and flood management, irrigation, water harvesting and storage, reforestation and other climate-resilience measures.
The World Bank document proposes allocating $310 million to dryland management, $165 million to community climate resilience and $25 million to institutional strengthening and project management.
The second proposed facility is linked to the Hope for Social Protection (HOPE-SP) programme, while the third is aimed at strengthening early childhood development.
The HOPE-SP project is still at an earlier preparation stage, with a technical design review expected on October 30, 2026, and tentative World Bank approval scheduled for March 2027.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s public debt rose to a record N166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026, according to the latest figures cited in the reports.
The fresh borrowing discussions therefore come as the government continues to seek financing for development and social programmes amid a rising public debt stock.
The World Bank proposals are still subject to the institution’s approval process and should not be treated as disbursed loans at this stage.
