World Bank Approves $300 Million SOLID Loan for IDPs in Northern Nigeria

The World Bank has approved a $300 million loan package for Nigeria on August 7, 2025, aimed at strengthening resilience and expanding access to essential services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities in Northern Nigeria.

Dubbed the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID), the initiative targets select Local Government Areas (LGAs) heavily affected by conflict-driven displacement.

It is expected to benefit up to 7.4 million people, including about 1.3 million IDPs, through an integrated development strategy aligned with Nigeria’s long-term development vision.

Northern Nigeria is grappling with displacement from ongoing conflict and insecurity, which has uprooted over 3.5 million people, placing immense strain on local infrastructure and service systems.

The influx of IDPs has increased competition for scarce resources, reduced livelihood opportunities, heightened vulnerability to natural disasters like flooding, and challenged local governments to meet growing needs effectively.

SOLID will build upon the earlier Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) and Nigeria’s governmental initiatives by shifting the focus from short-term recovery to an integrated, sustainable strategy.

The new project will invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, foster social cohesion and community resilience through participatory planning and economic cooperatives, support livelihoods for displaced and host populations, and strengthen institutional capacities to manage demographic pressures from displacement.

World Bank Country Director Mathew Verghis lauded the initiative for promoting a sustainable transition from humanitarian dependency to self-reliance and resilience, aligning with both the National IDP Policy and the Federal Government’s long-term plan.

Task Team Leaders Fuad Malkawi and Christopher Johnson emphasized the project’s critical role in closing infrastructure gaps, improving service delivery, and steering the region toward stability, resilience, and inclusive growth through targeted livelihood support.