Nigeria has accessed an additional $208.29 million from the World Bank under its $800 million National Social Safety Net Programme-Scale Up facility, bringing total disbursements under the loan to about $744.61 million. The latest drawdown comes as the Federal Government continues to rely on social intervention programmes, including cash transfers, to support poor and vulnerable households amid persistent economic pressures. World Bank loan records show that the latest funds were released in three tranches in 2026.
The records indicate that $8.29 million was disbursed on April 8, followed by $150 million on April 29 and $50 million on June 22. The bank also recorded a reversal of $83.65 million on February 1 2026, before re-disbursing the same amount that day. The transaction had no net impact on the total amount accessed by Nigeria. With the latest releases, Nigeria’s net drawdown in the first half of 2026 stood at $208.29 million.
Cumulative disbursements under the facility have now reached approximately $744.61 million, representing about 93.1 per cent of the $800 million approved by the World Bank in December 2021. Financed through the International Development Association under Credit No. IDA-70190, the facility was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s social protection system and provide financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households.
The loan subsequently became an important source of funding for the Federal Government’s social intervention efforts following the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023. President Bola Tinubu’s administration has presented cash transfers and other social interventions as measures to cushion vulnerable citizens against rising living costs and economic reforms. Before the latest releases, Nigeria received $300 million on October 31 2023, $15 million on November 8 2023, $215 million on April 29 2025 and $6.32 million on November 3 2025.
The World Bank approved the National Social Safety Net Programme-Scale Up