Nigeria to receive $500m for broadband expansion, $250m for health security from World Bank
The World Bank is expected to approve two loans totalling $750 million for Nigeria on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, according to documents published on its website. The funds are earmarked for health security and climate-resilient digital infrastructure.
The package includes $500 million for the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth in Nigeria (BRIDGE) project and $250 million for Phase II of the Health Security Programme in Western and Central Africa.
The BRIDGE initiative, coordinated by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aims to extend broadband access to underserved communities. With a projected cost of $1.6 billion, the project will combine concessional financing with private investment. Communications Minister Bosun Tijani described the programme as “the most ambitious digital infrastructure project in Nigeria’s history,” targeting expansion of the fibre-optic network from 35,000km to more than 125,000km, alongside new data centres and regional loops.
The $250 million health facility, to be managed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Finance Ministry, is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to prevent and respond to pandemics. The World Bank said the programme will reinforce regional surveillance and emergency response systems across West and Central Africa.
Nigeria has seen a surge in World Bank support in recent years, with $8.4 billion approved for 15 projects between June 2023 and August 2025. Current data shows the country owes the bank $18.23 billion, nearly 40% of its external debt stock.
Economists remain split on the new loans. While some argue that concessional borrowing tied to growth-focused projects is positive, others warn that Nigeria’s rising debt—now around N149 trillion—could hit N180 trillion soon, undermining fiscal stability despite higher government revenues.
