The World Bank Group says it is helping mobilize up to $5.79 billion in private financing for Nigeria in 2026 to support agriculture, telecommunications, digital infrastructure, and small businesses.
In a report published on October 11, the institution said the initiative combines policy reforms, investment programs, commercial financing, and risk-sharing mechanisms to attract investors and create jobs.
A major component is the Fostering Inclusive Finance for MSMEs in Nigeria program, known as FINCLUDE, which is expected to mobilize nearly $1.89 billion in private financing, support more than 250,000 businesses, and generate about 850,000 direct and indirect jobs. Thirty percent of its financing is targeted at women-led businesses.
In agriculture, financing arrangements involving Dangote Industries and Indorama Fertilizer are expected to strengthen domestic fertilizer production and improve access to farm inputs for more than 10 million smallholder farmers. The two companies have a combined annual production capacity of 6.8 million metric tonnes.
The bank also highlighted investments in digital infrastructure, including the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE) project, which could attract up to $1.1 billion in private investment by 2030. The project aims to expand affordable broadband access to an additional 58 million people.
In telecommunications, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, helped mobilize more than $1.1 billion from private investors through a $1.2 billion bond issuance by IHS Towers.
The World Bank Group attributed the investment opportunities partly to Nigeria’s economic reforms since mid-2023, including changes to foreign exchange management, public finances, and fuel subsidies.
It said the coordinated financing effort is intended to improve access to credit, strengthen food security, expand digital connectivity, and support private-sector growth across the country.
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