By Obinna Uballa
The World Bank has praised Nigeria’s leadership in scaling up social protection programmes, revealing that its $750 million financing for the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) has already attracted more than $2.2 billion in complementary investments from state governments.
The commendation came from the Bank’s Regional Manager for Social Protection and Labour for West and Central Africa, Robert Chase, during his maiden visit to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, in Abuja on Thursday.
Chase described Nigeria’s delivery of large-scale social protection systems as “expansive, innovative and a model for the rest of Africa,” noting that NG-CARES had been strongly owned and driven at the national and state levels since its launch.
He disclosed that the first phase of NG-CARES would wrap up this year, while an additional financing package is expected to become effective by December 9 and fully rolled out in January 2026. The next phase, he said, will deepen cash transfer schemes, strengthen identification systems, and expand livelihood support in line with the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to expanding social protection coverage and boosting economic opportunities for the poor and vulnerable.
Bagudu, welcoming the World Bank delegation and the ministry’s new Permanent Secretary, Dr. Deborah Odoh, said Nigeria’s macroeconomic and social reforms had significantly benefited from the Bank’s support. He emphasised the constitutional duty of all tiers of government to promote social welfare and inclusive development, adding that federal coordination was essential to avoid duplication and strengthen policy alignment.
He stressed the need for a coherent ecosystem involving NG-CARES, the Nigeria for Women Project, and the HOPE Agenda, supported by functional ward-level governance structures that can reduce overlaps, resolve conflicts and enhance community engagement.
Addressing Nigeria’s poverty dynamics, Bagudu said many citizens remain hardworking but economically trapped due to low returns on labour and productivity constraints. He said President Bola Tinubu had mandated the ministry to translate ongoing reforms into measurable improvements in living standards.
“Our goal is to lift millions out of poverty by 2030 through coordinated programmes, expanded financing, and strengthened efficiency,” he said.
He further highlighted the ministry’s central role in driving national development efforts and building strong partnerships across government and international institutions.
Dr. Odoh, in her remarks, described the World Bank as a longstanding and dependable partner, saying its support had delivered transformative results across social protection and macroeconomic reforms. She welcomed Chase to Nigeria, expressing confidence that the renewed engagement would open new opportunities for inclusive growth.
“We are proud of the progress achieved so far, and we are optimistic about the future,” she said, assuring that the federal government remains committed to deploying available resources to advance Tinubu’s vision of a more prosperous and resilient nation.
