By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
The World Bank is expected to approve a $632 million loan to Nigeria today, March 31, 2025, aimed at improving nutrition and expanding basic education. This loan comprises two separate projects:
$80 million for the “Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria 2.0” initiative and $552 million for the “HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All” program. The funds are intended to enhance healthcare, education, and community resilience, supporting Nigeria’s development goals.
This approval comes on the heels of a $500 million loan granted to Nigeria last Friday, March 28, for its Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Programme. This program seeks to assist vulnerable households and businesses facing economic hardship.
However, as Nigeria continues to rely heavily on international loans, concerns about the country’s rising debt profile persist.
Development economist Dr. Aliyu Ilias raised concerns about Nigeria’s borrowing strategy, stating, “While borrowing itself is not bad, at the point Nigeria is now, borrowing is becoming a bad thing.”
He highlighted that despite increased revenue from measures like the removal of fuel subsidies, the government’s growing reliance on loans could worsen the country’s financial situation.
Ilias expressed hope that the Tinubu administration would avoid further borrowing, especially after efforts to generate more revenue.
Meanwhile, Dr. Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, called for a more strategic approach to borrowing:
“We need to be creative about the borrowing plan,” he said.
Aduloju emphasized that balancing external and domestic borrowing, while prioritizing key infrastructure projects, could enhance their successful implementation.
Despite the growing concerns over debt, the World Bank’s ongoing support underscores Nigeria’s dependence on external financing to address critical challenges in sectors like healthcare, education, and community resilience.
However, experts caution that without careful management, these loans could contribute to further economic strain, urging the government to optimize its resources and borrowing strategy for long-term stability.
