Nigeria’s exposure to World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) rose to $18.7 billion as of December 31, 2025, retaining the country’s position as the third-largest borrower from the concessional lending arm of the global financial institution.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to the latest IDA Management’s Discussion and Analysis report, the figure represents an increase from $18.5 billion recorded in September 2025, reflecting continued borrowing to support development programmes and fiscal needs. The report shows that Bangladesh topped the list with $23 billion, followed by Pakistan with $19.4 billion, while Nigeria ranked third.
The World Bank explained that IDA provides low-interest loans and grants to low-income countries, aimed at promoting economic growth, reducing poverty, and improving living conditions. The report noted that the top 10 borrowing countries accounted for about 60 percent of IDA’s total global exposure as of the end of 2025.
It added that IDA’s total outstanding loans stood at $231.1 billion, with provisions for losses amounting to $6.2 billion, representing 2 percent of underlying exposures. The institution also disclosed that the single borrower limit was set at $51 billion for the 2026 financial year, though it is not currently restrictive for any country.
The development comes amid rising concerns over Nigeria’s growing debt profile, after the Debt Management Office (DMO) reported that the nation’s total public debt climbed to N153 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, driven largely by increased domestic and external borrowings.
