World Bank Approves $500m to Restore Flood-Damaged Areas in Nigeria

Nigeria has continued to experience significant rainfall in different parts of the country, with floods threatening homes, farmland and people's livelihoods. Northern Nigeria in particular, has been affected, with thousands of residents burdened by more recent floods. In Yobe State, more than 34,000 people were affected, while over 200 rice farms were damaged in Kano. Along with the destruction of property, these incidents have displaced families, disrupted agricultural activities and worsened food insecurity in already helpless communities.

In September 2026, some reports stated that the Federal Government was seeking $1.5 billion in additional financing from the World Bank for three development programmes. One of these was a proposed $500 million loan for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, which became effective in the country in June 2022. The ACReSAL is a government project created to tackle environmental problems in the country, and it is largely supported by the World Bank. On November 6, the World Bank approved the $500 million financing to address environmental degradation, improve water management and strengthen climate resilience across Northern Nigeria.

The intervention is expected to support the restoration of 1.4 million hectares of degraded land and benefit approximately 6.6 million people by 2031. Planned measures will cover 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau. Some of the planned activities include rehabilitating watersheds, controlling soil erosion, restoring degraded landscapes and improving water management systems.

However, the project is not starting from scratch. The existing ACReSAL programme has already introduced sustainable land management practices across approximately 550,000 hectares and reached more than 4.4 million beneficiaries. Some ongoing and completed interventions include drainage rehabilitation in Kano and Katsina, forest reserve restoration and flood-control works in Damaturu, Yobe State. With the approved additional financing, the programme is expected to expand these interventions, with more investments expected to continue in 2027.

Despite these efforts, flooding remains a recurring problem in Nigeria. Poor drainage systems, improper and incomplete construction, deforestation and inadequate waste management all contribute to the situation. Heavy rainfall also continues to damage already existing infrastructures in the North. While the World Bank funding offers an opportunity for these issues to be fixed, proper use of these funds is important to curb these damages once and for all. Nigerians need lasting solutions, not just emergency responses after every flood.