Nigeria Finalizes $500M HOPE Governance Program Agreement

The Federal Government of Nigeria is in the process of finalizing arrangements with all 36 states to sign a subsidiary loan agreement worth $500 million under the HOPE Governance Program. This initiative, which involves collaboration with the World Bank, aims to enhance service delivery in the basic education and primary healthcare sectors.

Dr. Deborah O.

N. Odoh, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, emphasized the importance of this program during a meeting with the HOPE Governance team from the World Bank in Abuja.

She noted that the federal government, led by Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, is committed to expediting the process due to time constraints.

The World Bank task team leader, Ikechukwu John Nweje, urged the Permanent Secretary to engage state governments to secure the signing of the agreement, which will enable access to funds upon verification of results. The program is designed to address challenges in service delivery that have historically plagued these sectors.