The World Bank is set to decide on a $500 million loan request from Nigeria on Friday, aimed at enhancing rural access and agricultural marketing in the country. This information was disclosed by the Washington-based lender on Thursday.
The loan, part of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project – Scale Up (RAAMP), seeks to bridge the gap between rural communities and broader markets across Nigeria.
To qualify for participation in the project, Nigerian states are required to establish a fully functional Roads Fund and Roads Agency, complete with appointed boards, staff, and provisions for administrative costs in their budgets.
The World Bank document explained
“While the eligibility for state participation under RAAMP required the drafting and placement of Road Fund and Roads Agency bills in the state houses of assembly, the new project mandates states to have fully functional Roads Fund and Roads Agencies with boards, staff, and administrative budget provisions. Additionally, RARAs offer opportunities to promote women’s inclusion in the transport sector.”
If approved, this would mark the 10th loan project granted to Nigeria by the World Bank under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Since Tinubu assumed office, Nigeria has secured loans totaling $6.45 billion from the World Bank within 16 months. This figure is expected to rise further following the recent approval of three new loans worth $1.57 billion for various national projects.
Over the past five years, Nigeria has obtained at least 35 loan approvals from the World Bank, amounting to $24.088 billion. Notable projects funded by these loans include:
$750 million for power infrastructure
$500 million for women’s empowerment
$700 million for girls’ education
$750 million for renewable energy
$1.5 billion for economic stabilization reforms
$750 million for resource mobilization reforms
Nigeria’s rising debt profile remains a cause for concern. As of June, the country’s total debt stood at ₦134.3 trillion. Economists predict that this figure will increase significantly once all planned 2024 borrowings are accounted for.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has repeatedly warned about the dangers of Nigeria’s escalating debt, emphasizing its long-term implications for future generations. Similarly, Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, has expressed alarm over the country’s mounting debt amidst ongoing infrastructural deficits.
The World Bank’s decision on the $500 million loan could further highlight Nigeria’s dependency on external financing for critical development projects.
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