The World Bank has approved $300 million in funding to address the pressing needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities in conflict-affected areas of northern Nigeria. The initiative, dubbed the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID), aims to foster economic opportunities, improve access to essential services, and strengthen resilience in regions strained by prolonged insecurity and displacement.
Northern Nigeria has faced escalating violence and instability, displacing over 3.5 million individuals—nearly a third of the country’s total displaced population. This mass displacement has overwhelmed local infrastructure, deepened resource scarcity, and heightened vulnerability to climate shocks such as floods. Host communities, already grappling with limited services, now face intensified competition for livelihoods, healthcare, and education. According to the World Bank, these challenges demand coordinated, long-term interventions to break cycles of dependency on humanitarian aid.
SOLID will prioritize climate-resilient infrastructure development, livelihood support, and social cohesion programs across select Local Government Areas. The project builds on earlier efforts like the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project, which focused on immediate relief, but shifts toward sustainable solutions. Key components include fostering economic cooperatives, integrating displaced populations into local planning processes, and strengthening governmental capacity to manage demographic shifts.
“This initiative empowers IDPs and hosts to rebuild self-reliance,” said Mathew Verghis, the World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria. He emphasized the alignment of SOLID with Nigeria’s National IDP Policy and long-term development vision, which aim to transition vulnerable populations from emergency assistance to durable economic stability.
An estimated 7.4 million people, including 1.3 million IDPs, stand to benefit from the project. Implementation will involve collaboration across federal, state, and local authorities, with international partners providing technical and financial backing. Task Team Leaders Fuad Malkawi and Christopher Johnson noted the urgency of addressing preexisting infrastructure gaps in host areas, which have been exacerbated by displacement. “Targeted support for livelihoods and service delivery is critical to achieving equitable growth,” they stated.
By bridging humanitarian aid and development, SOLID seeks to transform northern Nigeria’s trajectory—from crisis mitigation to fostering inclusive, climate-resilient communities. The project underscores the World Bank’s broader commitment to addressing protracted displacement through sustainable, community-driven strategies.
