The World Bank has approved an additional $500 million for Nigeria. The funding will help tackle flooding and restore degraded land across the North.
The financing falls under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project. It covers 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
By 2031, the project aims to restore 1.4 million hectares of land. It also targets approximately 6.6 million beneficiaries.
The programme will rehabilitate watersheds and tackle soil erosion. It will also improve water management and agricultural productivity.
Project Targets 6.6 Million Nigerians
The World Bank expects the intervention to improve livelihoods in vulnerable communities. It also aims to reduce conflicts linked to competition for natural resources.
The project will support farmers, herders and other rural residents. Better access to productive land and water could ease tensions between these groups.
World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, highlighted the project’s potential impact.
He said ACReSAL had shown how climate-resilient investments could improve livelihoods. Such investments also strengthen food and water security.
Verghis added that the new funding would expand successful interventions. It would also restore more land and boost agricultural productivity.
ACReSAL Task Team Leader, Iganya Agene, also welcomed the additional financing. She said it would turn earlier planning into larger investments.
According to Agene, the programme would support climate adaptation and food security. It would also create jobs and economic opportunities.
Existing Project Has Reached Over 4.4 Million People
ACReSAL began in 2022 to address environmental degradation across northern Nigeria.
Since then, the project has introduced sustainable land management practices across about 550,000 hectares. It has also reached more than 4.4 million beneficiaries.
The World Bank said the programme had exceeded its target for improved catchment management. These results provide a foundation for expanding its climate adaptation work.
The Federal Ministry of Environment leads the project. It works with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security also supports implementation.
The expanded programme will strengthen natural resource management. It will also improve soil health and support more productive farming.
The World Bank expects these measures to reduce flood risks and protect rural livelihoods. The project aims to deliver its wider targets by 2031.
Fresh Funding Comes Amid Rising World Bank Debt
The latest approval follows a $1.25 billion World Bank financing package from June 2026. That package supported Nigeria’s investment and job creation programme.
It comprised a $750 million credit from the International Development Association. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development provided the remaining $500 million.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s outstanding debt to the World Bank has continued to rise.
Debt Management Office figures show that the balance reached $20.73 billion by June 30, 2026. It stood at $14.34 billion in March 2023.
The increase amounts to approximately $6.39 billion, or 44.6 per cent. The World Bank accounted for 38.02 per cent of Nigeria’s $54.52 billion external debt.
The latest $500 million approval concerns the ACReSAL environmental project. It is separate from another proposed $500 million facility for an infrastructure financing platform.
The World Bank is expected to consider that separate proposal in May 2027.
