Northern Nigeria’s long-running displacement crisis may be getting a lifeline. The World Bank has just approved a massive $300 million (approximately ₦462 billion) package to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the communities hosting them, a move that could significantly impact lives in one of the country’s most troubled regions.

The money, which will flow through the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID), is intended to exceed providing temporary aid. It is meant to assist IDPs and their hosts to get access to basic services, to jump-start economic opportunities, and to begin their journey to long-term stability.

Crises, Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnapping in the North-West, and farmer-herder conflicts in the Middle Belt have battered northern Nigeria over the past 10 years. The two have collectively displaced millions of people, many of whom end up in crowded camps or host communities that are unable to cope.

The conditions in these camps are severe. Healthcare, schooling, and clean water are usually unavailable. Constant threats are malnutrition and disease. And to women and girls, the risks of gender-based violence, exploitation, and early marriage are devastatingly increased.

According to the World Bank, it is interested in transforming this story. The SOLID Project will be developed with an integrated approach. It will concentrate on climate-resilient infrastructure, the enhancement of local institutions, and livelihoods that can support families.

Ongoing conflict and insecurity in Northern Nigeria have forced more than 3.5 million people from their homes, putting significant strain on local infrastructure in areas where IDPs have settled.
The resulting population surge has led to limited access to services and increased vulnerability to natural disasters like flooding. This has led to competition for scarce resources and limited livelihood opportunities for all,” the Bank declared.

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This is not the first intervention. The project builds on previous Nigerian government efforts and the earlier Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project, which provided short-term emergency recovery. But this time, the focus is on helping both IDPs and host communities transition from dependency on aid to self-reliance.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, put it this way:
 We are glad to support this initiative, which has a tremendous potential to help Nigeria in addressing development challenges associated with protracted displacement in a sustainable way. The Project’s integrated approach, will ensure that IDPs and host communities can transition from dependency on humanitarian assistance to self-reliance and resilience, which will open up better economic opportunities.

The SOLID Project is expected to touch the lives of 7.4 million people, including 1.3 million IDPs. It will be rolled out in selected local government areas, with all levels of government and international partners working together.

Task Team Leaders for SOLID, Fuad Malkawi and Christopher Johnson, did not mince words:
This operation is central to tackling the enduring displacement crisis in Northern Nigeria. It reflects the urgency of addressing infrastructure gaps and service delivery challenges. It will provide targeted livelihood support to help both displaced and host populations achieve sustainable economic outcomes.

While the Nigerian government and aid agencies have been providing food, shelter, and medical care, insecurity and funding gaps have made the job harder. Many displaced families still cannot return home because their communities remain unsafe or destroyed.

With the World Bank’s new injection of funds, there is cautious hope that the tide could finally turn, from mere survival to a real shot at rebuilding lives.

Anita Chinedu