The World Bank has scheduled December 16, 2025, to consider Nigeria’s fresh $1 billion Development Policy Financing (DPF) request aimed at supporting economic reforms, expanding job opportunities, and strengthening private investment across key sectors of the economy.
According to official documents available on the Bank’s website, the facility—titled Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (Project ID: P512892)—is structured as a $500 million IDA credit and $500 million IBRD loan. If approved, the funds will be released in two tranches and targeted at improving access to credit for small and medium-scale enterprises, expanding digital services, and fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.
The financing is expected to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda, which focuses on stabilizing the economy, rebuilding investor confidence, and accelerating private-sector participation through regulatory and fiscal adjustments. Government sources revealed that the proposed funds will also be directed toward improving financial systems, expanding social protection, and supporting the transition from consumption-based spending to productive investment.
Economic analysts view the move as a crucial step to strengthen Nigeria’s post-reform recovery efforts amid rising inflation, currency volatility, and declining oil revenues. They noted that policy-based loans from development partners such as the World Bank remain a vital tool for bridging fiscal gaps and maintaining macroeconomic stability in the short term.
However, the loan’s approval will depend on Nigeria’s commitment to meet reform milestones tied to transparency, fiscal discipline, and ease of doing business. The World Bank is expected to release the full project appraisal document after the Board’s consideration next month.
Nigeria currently maintains one of the largest World Bank portfolios in Sub-Saharan Africa, with cumulative commitments exceeding $14 billion across sectors including power, digital economy, education, and social investment. If approved, this new $1 billion policy loan would mark another strategic partnership under the Bank’s Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria, which prioritizes human capital development, economic diversification, and resilience building.
The Ministry of Finance, led by Honorable Minister Wale Edun, is expected to represent Nigeria at the December 16 Board meeting in Washington, D.C., where discussions will focus on the implementation framework and reform triggers for disbursement.
While the proposal has sparked debate over Nigeria’s rising debt profile, government officials maintain that concessional loans from institutions like the World Bank remain essential for stabilizing the economy and supporting long-term growth reforms.
If approved, the facility could be a lifeline for Nigeria’s economic transformation drive—provided reforms are sustained and funds are transparently utilized to achieve measurable impact.