FACT-CHECK: Is Nigeria The Third-Highest Debtor to the World Bank’s International Development Association?

BY: Sultan Usman

Claim:

Nigeria has retained its position as the third-largest debtor to the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), with outstanding obligations of $18.2bn as of June 30, 2025, up from $16.5bn in June 2024.

Verdict:

True. Verified data from the World Bank’s IDA financial statements confirm Nigeria’s debt position, showing an increase of about $1.7bn (10.3%) in just one year.

Full Text

Arise TV broadcaster, Rufai Oseni posted on X that Nigeria has retained the third spot as the highest borrower with $18.2 billion owed to the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s arm for low-income countries.

caption: screenshot of claim

Verification

Data from the IDA June 2025 financial statements confirms Nigeria’s outstanding obligations of $18.2bn, up from $16.5bn in June 2024. This makes Nigeria the third-largest IDA debtor, after India and Bangladesh.

Conclusion:

Nigeria owes $18.2bn to the World Bank’s IDA as of June 30, 2025. The debt has grown by $1.7bn in one year. While the loans have supported critical projects, the lingering gap between financing and visible transformation remains Nigeria’s greatest paradox.