By Atoyebi Nike
The World Bank has approved a $300 million loan for Nigeria to boost resilience and improve access to essential services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their host communities in the country’s north.
The initiative, known as the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID), was approved on August 7, 2025, and will focus on Local Government Areas most affected by conflict-driven displacement. It is projected to benefit 7.4 million people, including 1.3 million IDPs, through a long-term, integrated development strategy.
Northern Nigeria faces mounting pressures from insecurity that has displaced more than 3.5 million people, straining infrastructure, services, and resources. The influx of displaced persons has intensified competition for jobs and basic amenities, increased exposure to natural disasters such as flooding, and stretched the capacity of local governments.
SOLID builds on the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) and existing government programs, shifting from short-term relief to sustainable recovery. Planned investments include climate-resilient infrastructure, livelihood support for both displaced and host populations, and measures to strengthen social cohesion through participatory planning and economic cooperatives.
The project will also enhance institutional capacity to manage the demographic and economic impacts of displacement, aligning with Nigeria’s broader development agenda.
