World Bank Approves $300m to Support IDPs in Nigeria

Integrated Project Targets 7.4 Million People in Northern Nigeria

The World Bank has approved $300 million in financing for the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID), aimed at improving access to essential services and economic opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their host communities in selected local government areas in northern Nigeria.

The initiative adopts an integrated development approach to help both displaced populations and host communities move towards self-sufficiency and resilience, in line with Nigeria’s long-term development goals.

Responding to Displacement Crisis
Conflict and insecurity in northern Nigeria have displaced over 3.5 million people, straining infrastructure and public services in host communities. The influx of IDPs has also heightened vulnerability to natural disasters, such as flooding, while overstretched local governments struggle to meet the needs of both residents and displaced populations.

SOLID builds on previous interventions by the Federal Government, international partners, and the earlier World Bank-supported Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP), which focused on short-term emergency recovery.

Key Project Priorities
According to the World Bank, the project will prioritise climate-resilient infrastructure development, promotion of social cohesion, participatory community planning, economic cooperatives, and livelihood support. It will also strengthen institutions to better respond to demographic changes caused by forced displacement, ensuring the integration of IDPs into the social and economic fabric of host communities.

Transitioning from Aid to Self-Reliance
World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said the integrated approach aligns with the National IDP Policy and Nigeria’s long-term development vision. “It will ensure that IDPs and host communities can transition from dependency on humanitarian assistance to self-reliance and resilience, which will open up better economic opportunities,” he said.

The project is expected to directly benefit up to 7.4 million people, including 1.3 million identified IDPs, and will be implemented through a coordinated, community-driven approach involving all tiers of government and international partners.

From Crisis to Stability
Task team leaders for SOLID, Fuad Malkawi and Christopher Johnson, described the initiative as central to tackling the displacement crisis in Northern Nigeria. “It reflects the urgency of addressing infrastructure gaps and service delivery challenges in host communities that were already strained before the influx of displaced populations,” they said. “It will provide targeted livelihood support to help both displaced and host populations achieve sustainable economic outcomes.”

By bridging the gap between emergency relief and long-term development, the SOLID Project aims to help Northern Nigeria transition from crisis response to stability, resilience, and inclusive growth.