The World Bank has approved $300 million in financing for Nigeria to strengthen resilience and expand access to essential services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their host communities in Northern Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Monday, World Bank Nigeria said the approval, granted on August 7, 2025, will fund the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID), targeting selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) most affected by conflict-driven displacement.

The project is expected to benefit up to 7.4 million people, including about 1.3 million IDPs, by adopting an integrated development strategy aligned with Nigeria’s long-term development vision.

According to the Bank, ongoing conflict and insecurity in the region have displaced over 3.5 million people, putting significant strain on local infrastructure and services in host communities. The influx has heightened competition for scarce resources, limited livelihood opportunities, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters such as flooding, while local governments struggle to meet the needs of both residents and displaced populations.

The SOLID project will build on the Nigerian government’s existing initiatives, previous international interventions, and the earlier Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP), which focused on short-term recovery.

It will prioritise developing and maintaining climate-resilient infrastructure, promoting social cohesion and community resilience through participatory planning and economic cooperatives, supporting livelihoods for both IDPs and host communities, and strengthening institutions to respond to demographic pressures caused by displacement.

“We are glad to support this initiative, which has tremendous potential to help Nigeria address development challenges associated with protracted displacement in a sustainable way,” said Mathew Verghis, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria. “The project’s integrated approach, aligned with the National IDP Policy and the Federal Government’s long-term vision, will ensure that IDPs and host communities can transition from dependency on humanitarian assistance to self-reliance and resilience, opening up better economic opportunities.”

The Bank noted that the project will be implemented through a coordinated, community-driven approach involving all tiers of government, with strong collaboration from international stakeholders.