The World Bank has approved $300 million in financing for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID) in Northern Nigeria, aimed at improving access to essential services and economic opportunities for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their host communities.

In a statement, the bank said the initiative adopts an integrated development strategy to help both IDPs and host communities move towards self-sufficiency and resilience, in line with Nigeria’s long-term development goals.

Naijaonpoint reports that ongoing conflict and insecurity in Northern Nigeria have displaced more than 3.5 million people, placing immense pressure on local infrastructure where IDPs have settled.

The surge in population has reduced access to basic services and increased vulnerability to natural disasters such as flooding.

“Local governments are unable to fully address these challenges and meet the needs of both residents and displaced populations. This has led to competition for scarce resources and limited livelihood opportunities for all,” the World Bank said.

The SOLID Project will expand on the Nigerian government’s initiatives, international partnerships, and the earlier World Bank-supported Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP), which focused on short-term emergency recovery.

Its key priorities include:

Developing and maintaining climate-resilient infrastructure
Promoting social cohesion and resilience through community planning, economic cooperatives, and IDP integration
Supporting livelihoods for IDPs and residents to start and sustain economic activities
Strengthening institutions to better manage demographic shifts from forced displacement

‘From Dependency to Self-Reliance’

The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said the project offers “tremendous potential” to address the challenges of protracted displacement.

“The Project’s integrated approach, aligned with the National IDP Policy and the Federal Government’s long-term development vision, will ensure that IDPs and host communities can transition from dependency on humanitarian assistance to self-reliance and resilience, opening up better economic opportunities,” he said.

The SOLID Project is expected to benefit up to 7.4 million people, including an estimated 1.3 million IDPs. It will be implemented through a coordinated, community-driven approach involving all tiers of government and strong partnerships with international stakeholders.

By bridging the gap between emergency relief and long-term development, the project aims to shift Northern Nigeria from crisis response to stability, resilience, and inclusive growth.

“This operation is central to tackling the enduring displacement crisis in Northern Nigeria,” said Task Team Leaders for SOLID, Fuad Malkawi and Christopher Johnson.

“It reflects the urgency of addressing infrastructure gaps and service delivery challenges in host communities that were already strained before the influx of displaced populations.”