The World Bank loan portfolio in Nigeria increased by $2.19bn in the last three years, investigation has shown. Data obtained from the Debt Management Office in Abuja showed that the country’s loan commitment to the bank as of March 31, 2016 stood at $6.72bn.
However, as of March 31, 2019, the loan commitment of the country to the Bretton Woods institution had risen to $8.9bn. This means that within a period of three years, the World Bank’s commitment to Nigeria rose by $2.19bn, reflecting 32.58 per cent increase.
Much of the loans from the World Bank between March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2019 came from the International Development Association, which is the concessional window of the Bretton Woods institution.
However, the data also showed the increasing recognition of Nigeria as a middle income country, qualifying for commercial loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the commercial window of the bank.
While as of March 31, 2016, IBRD’s commitment of the country stood only at $7.25m while as of March 31, 2019, the commitment had risen to $124.18m, showing an increase of $116.94m, reflecting an increase of 1,613 per cent over the three year period.