AfDB Approves $46M to Transform Healthcare in Nigeria’s Sokoto State
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $46 million loan to significantly improve healthcare delivery in Sokoto State, Nigeria, through the Sokoto State Health Infrastructure Project. The initiative aims to address urgent health system gaps and expand access to climate-resilient, high-quality services for millions of people.
Sokoto currently faces critical health challenges. Only one in twenty children is fully vaccinated, infant mortality stands at 104 deaths per 1,000 live births—almost double the national average, and the doctor-to-patient ratio is alarmingly low. Fewer than 14 percent of health facilities in the state have functional infrastructure.
The Bank’s financing will support the construction and equipping of a 1,000-bed teaching hospital, three zonal hospitals with a combined 450 beds, and six primary healthcare centers strategically located in rural areas. It also includes the rehabilitation of health training institutions and the development of a modern pharmaceutical warehouse to strengthen medical supply chains.
Abdul Kamara, Director General of the AfDB’s Nigeria Office, said the investment reflects the Bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting Nigeria’s healthcare priorities. “By strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Sokoto State, we are building hope and creating better health outcomes for millions of Nigerians,” he stated.
The project aligns with Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021–2025) and the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. It is expected to generate around 2,500 jobs, with 60 percent reserved for youth and 30 percent for women. Additionally, it will create 700 new annual training slots in local medical and nursing schools to help close the region’s skills gap.
The project will incorporate renewable energy systems and digital health infrastructure, promoting sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It will also leverage partnerships with UNICEF, WHO, USAID, and other key development actors to ensure comprehensive health system strengthening.
This is the fifth health infrastructure initiative supported by the African Development Bank in Nigeria, raising its total investment in the country’s health sector to more than $163 million.
The Bank remains committed to enhancing the quality of life for Africans through strategic investments in health, education, and sustainable development.
