Health sector crisis persists despite N5.4tn World Bank loans
The World Bank approved a total of $3.53bn (N5.4tn at the official exchange rate of N1,535/$) in health-related loans to Nigeria over the past nine years, The PUNCH reports.
However, the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, as well as health officials in states, argued that despite the substantial funds committed to healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria and the loans from the World Bank, the results are not visible.
According to the industry operators, the country still has a poor state of health infrastructure that does not reflect the huge amount of loans that have been collected from the global financial firm.
A review of publicly available data on the World Bank’s official project portal revealed that between 2016 and 2025, at least 11 major health sector projects secured funding totalling $3.527bn in loans and an additional $111.29m in grants. This brings the total World Bank financial commitment for health-focused interventions in Nigeria to approximately $3.64bn during the period under review.
The PUNCH also observed that the global lender is expected to approve an additional $250m health-related loan to Nigeria in September, which would raise the total value of loans and grants for the country’s health sector to $3.89bn.
The funding, which cut across multiple health initiatives, was primarily channelled through federal institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The financial support was aimed at boosting immunisation, maternal and child health, nutrition, pandemic preparedness, and primary healthcare services across several states. Data reviewed by PUNCH show that the bulk of the financing was secured between 2018 and 2024, with a significant surge occurring in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operators speak
But operators in the medical space, as well as health officials in states, argued that despite the substantial funds committed to healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria, the results are not visible.
The President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Dr Tope Osundara, said the country still has a poor state of health infrastructure that does not reflect the huge amount of loans that have been collected from the World Bank.
Osundara said, “You are also aware that at some point, power supply is a major problem. I am going to cite an example of what happened in UCH in recent times: there was no light. So, really, when you now look at the amount the World Bank is pumping into our healthcare system in Nigeria, you will discover that there is nothing really to show for it except that we now have more creation of health facilities, more creation of federal medical centres.
Concerning the remuneration for healthcare workers, too, this is also very poor when you compare it to what the standard should be. So, the medical support for healthcare workers is not really there. You can hardly be able to access a loan, in terms of a mortgage, car loan. Some of these amenities that can make life easy and better for healthcare workers are not really there. It is not readily accessible.
“So, when you now begin to look at the amount of money the World Bank has loaned Nigeria, it appears like maybe there is a form of diversion away from what the money is actually meant for. Because if this money is actually there, we should see a whole lot of improvement. You go to the hospital sometimes, there is no drug, and no light.”
The NARD President urged the government to use loans judiciously.
