Nigeria, World Bank to provide digital broadband access nationwide

The World Bank says it is working with Nigeria to provide digital broadband access across the country.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Wednesday, Anshula Kant, managing director and chief financial officer of the World Bank Group, said the global financial institution has a “very large programme” with Nigeria and is working closely with the government to deliver some projects.

“One of the biggest forthcoming projects will be in the digital space, providing digital broadband access across the country,” Kant said.

“We have projects in the agribusiness space, we have projects in the energy space, we have projects in the social protection, education, health space. So, we are working very closely together with this.”

Kant was joined on the visit by Mayank Goyal, advisor to the World Bank Group; Taimur Samad, the World Bank’s country manager for Nigeria; and Wale Edun, Nigeria’s minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy.

Also present were Bosun Tijani, minister of communications and digital economy, and Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president.

The World Bank executive said the organisation’s development priorities align strongly with Nigeria’s agenda — focusing on youth employment, infrastructure, and human capital development.

“Some of our key priorities and Nigeria’s key priorities really resonate well together. Today, the World Bank Group is on a mission to eradicate poverty on a livable planet. What does that mean? Accelerated growth and better jobs for young people,” she said.

“To achieve this, we must create an enabling environment, which includes access to energy, digital services, higher agricultural productivity, better health services, and education. Human capital development is of critical importance.”

She said that sustainable economic growth requires a balanced focus on physical infrastructure and human capital investment.

According to Kant, the World Bank is committed to supporting both areas to help Nigeria achieve faster growth and improved job creation.

The World Bank official commended the Nigerian government and Tinubu for initiating bold macroeconomic reforms, adding that the positive results are already visible.