The World Bank has approved and declared effective an Additional Financing package of $500 million for the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme, marking a significant boost to the Federal Government’s efforts to expand social protection for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
This was contained in a statement signed by NG-CARES Information and Communication Officer, Suleiman Odapu issued to DAILY POST.
He said the declaration of effectiveness was communicated to the Federal Government in an official notification from the World Bank dated December 9, 2025, confirming that all conditions for accessing the additional funds have been fulfilled.
Reacting to the development, the National Coordinator of NG-CARES, Dr Abdulkarim Obaje, described the additional financing as a “major milestone” in advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in strengthening the country’s social safety nets.
According to him, the new financing will further energise governments at the federal, state, and local levels to scale up interventions aimed at improving economic resilience among vulnerable households, smallholder farmers, and small businesses affected by ongoing economic shocks.
“With this approval, States and the FCT can now commence full implementation of NG-CARES by funding Delivery Platforms and Coordination Units.
These expenditures will be reimbursed after verification by an Independent Verification Agent (IVA),” Obaje explained.
He assured that the Federal CARES Support Unit (FCSU) will continue to offer technical assistance, oversight, and guidance to ensure smooth rollout and compliance with programme standards.
The National Coordinator expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support for the programme, and commended the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, for providing the leadership that has contributed to NG-CARES’ notable achievements.
The Federal Government also lauded the World Bank for its sustained partnership and commitment to Nigeria’s pro-poor and economic inclusion initiatives.
The Additional Financing is expected to expand the reach and impact of NG-CARES interventions and further strengthen national social protection systems across the country.
The NG-CARES 1.0 programme directly impacted more than 17 million beneficiaries. It supported communities in constructing schools and health facilities, revitalised small businesses, assisted smallholder farmers, provided stipends to youths under the Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW) scheme, and delivered livelihood support to vulnerable households.
The programme also benefited from strong commitment by States and the FCT, which collectively invested more than $2.2 billion in its implementation.
NG-CARES remains one of the flagship programmes in the World Bank Nigeria portfolio and has received a “highly satisfactory” performance rating.
Nigeria receives additional $500m from World Bank under NG-CARES programme
