The World Bank says its total development projects and lending operations in Nigeria are now valued at over $16 billion, spanning key sectors including education, health, social protection, energy and infrastructure.
Gatekeepers News reports that the bank disclosed this in a statement on Sunday as Anna Bjerde, managing director of operations, began a three-day visit to Nigeria aimed at strengthening engagement and exploring ways to accelerate growth and job creation.
According to the statement, Bjerde is leading a World Bank Group delegation to Lagos, alongside Ethiopis Tafara, vice-president for Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Focus on jobs, energy, private sector
The World Bank said the visit will include consultations on its upcoming Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria, which places jobs, energy access and private-sector-led growth at the centre of the development agenda.
“In Nigeria, the World Bank provides large-scale concessional financing for development programs at both the federal and state levels; with an active portfolio of over US$16 billion spread across several interventions ranging from education, health, social protection, energy, and infrastructure,” the statement said.
The bank said the consultations will seek feedback on four priority areas: improving the enabling environment, unleashing human capital, building resilience, and maximising private capital.
It added that the visit would also highlight Nigeria’s role in advancing global development initiatives, including Mission 300, under which the Nigeria DARES programme aims to connect 17.5 million people to household energy access, and AgriConnect, designed to transform smallholder farming into a commercially viable engine for jobs, higher incomes and food security.
Discussions will also cover digital connectivity, power sector reforms, social protection and human capital outcomes, the bank said.
‘Lagos is ready’ — Sanwo-Olu
Speaking during a meeting with the delegation, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, said the state is ready to deepen its partnership with the World Bank in energy, agriculture, tourism and human capital development.
“Lagos is ready to do more to attract investments and partnerships that will positively impact our people,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“We are open to collaboration that strengthens infrastructure and accelerates inclusive growth.”
He stressed the state’s readiness to do what is necessary to attract more World Bank support for infrastructure development, while highlighting the achievements of his administration under the THEMES+ development agenda.
The governor also said Lagos moved from 29th to first in the national ease of doing business ranking within four years.
“We doubled our performance across critical areas through deliberate reforms and efficiency,” he said.
World Bank praises reforms
In her remarks, Bjerde said the World Bank is willing to partner with Lagos, describing the state’s progress as reflective of solutions that could work nationally.
She said recent reforms have helped stabilise the economy and improve predictability for investors.
“Nigeria has been very consistent. Policies haven’t been changing much, and that is helping predictability, especially for investors,” she said.
“We like the government’s effort on Ease of Doing Business and cutting off the red tape.”
Bjerde added that Lagos remains a major stakeholder on the World Bank’s interventions dashboard, despite being a subnational government.
She also disclosed that the organisation plans to conduct a five-year country review in Nigeria to assess progress, with a particular focus on Lagos.
During the visit, Bjerde is scheduled to meet with Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, and Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
