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The World Bank Group says it is helping mobilise up to $5.79 billion in private financing for Nigeria in fiscal year 2026, with one of its major programmes expected to support about 850,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The institution disclosed this in a feature titled Unlocking $5.79 Billion in Private Financing, which outlines investments and financing arrangements across digital infrastructure, agriculture, telecommunications and small-business development.
The financing drive combines policy reforms, investment platforms, commercial financing and risk-mitigation instruments to attract private capital into sectors considered critical to Nigeria’s economic growth.
Digital infrastructure to attract $1.1 billion
Through the Broadband Infrastructure Development (BRIDGE) Project, the World Bank Group aims to expand affordable broadband access to an additional 58 million people in Nigeria by 2030.
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The initiative seeks to increase broadband coverage from 92 million people in 2025 to 150 million by 2030. Its first investor-selection round is expected to mobilise at least $156 million in private equity, with subsequent rounds potentially unlocking up to $1.1 billion by 2030.
The project is also expected to connect 38,800 public schools, 16,900 health facilities and 3,400 local government offices. The expanded access is projected to benefit an additional 42 million young people and 15 million women.
MSME financing to support 850,000 jobs
The Financial Inclusion for Nigeria (FINCLUDE) programme is expected to mobilise nearly $1.89 billion in private financing and support about 850,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The programme targets more than 250,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in employment-intensive sectors. It includes a $500 million financing package combining resources from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).
At least 30% of the financing is targeted at women-led businesses, as the programme seeks to improve access to finance for smaller businesses and support employment creation.
Agriculture projects target one million farmers
The Agricultural Value Chains for Growth (AGROW) Project, under the World Bank Group’s AgriConnect approach, aims to support one million smallholder farmers, including women and young people.
- The project is expected to attract $220 million from agribusiness companies and $22 million from certified seed producers to strengthen agricultural value chains and improve farmers’ access to productive inputs.
- Separately, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private-sector arm, helped mobilise $1.02 billion for Dangote Industries and $282.5 million for Indorama Fertilizer.
The two companies have a combined production capacity of 6.8 million metric tonnes per year. The investments are expected to improve access to agricultural inputs and support productivity gains for more than 10 million smallholder farmers.
IHS Towers attracts more than $1.1 billion
The IFC served as an anchor investor in a $1.2 billion bond issuance by IHS Towers, helping mobilise more than $1.1 billion from private investors.
The transaction illustrates the World Bank Group’s use of its own investment commitments to attract additional private capital into infrastructure, including telecommunications infrastructure that supports digital connectivity.
The World Bank Group said Nigeria’s economic reforms since mid-2023, including changes to foreign exchange management, public finances and fuel subsidies, have helped create more predictable conditions for investment.
Earlier World Bank funding
The latest financing arrangements build on earlier World Bank programmes aimed at expanding access to finance for Nigerian businesses and improving agricultural productivity.
- In December 2025, the World Bank approved a $500 million financing package for FINCLUDE to expand access to credit for Nigerian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The programme is designed to address funding constraints facing businesses, particularly women-led enterprises and agribusinesses, and is expected to mobilise additional private capital.
In April 2026, the World Bank approved a $500 million credit for the AGROW Project to improve smallholder farmers’ productivity, strengthen agricultural value chains and improve food security.
