North-East Dominates as AfDB Projects in Nigeria Rise to $6.2bn

Nigeria’s North-East region has emerged as the strongest-performing zone in the implementation of African Development Bank-funded projects, according to the AfDB’s 2025 Country Portfolio Performance Review.

The report revealed that AfDB’s active portfolio in Nigeria rose to $6.2 billion spread across 53 projects covering all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The projects cut across critical sectors including transport, agriculture, energy, healthcare, water supply, education and private sector development.

According to the review, the North-East recorded the highest level of implementation progress, driven largely by the Inclusive Basic Service Delivery and Livelihood Empowerment Programme valued at $259.5 million. The intervention programme covers Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba states and focuses on healthcare, sanitation, water supply, education, nutrition, MSME support and livelihood empowerment.

The AfDB disclosed that, 45 out of 60 targeted health facilities had either been completed or were nearing completion; More than 18,000 schoolchildren received uniforms, furniture and educational materials; 1,105 MSME start-ups benefitted from support schemes; 1,507 women-led agribusiness groups received assistance; 3,268 vulnerable individuals obtained cash transfers and productive assets.

While the North-East recorded visible implementation progress, the South-East experienced slower movement despite receiving substantial project approvals.

The report showed that identifiable projects in the South-East received approvals worth approximately $171.3 million, but only about $30.93 million had been disbursed as of December 2025. One of the region’s biggest projects, the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Project, received approval worth $115 million, yet only about $130,000 had been released during the review period.

The Ebonyi State Ring Road Project showed stronger implementation, with nearly $29.6 million disbursed out of its $54.6 million approval. The report also noted that, the Abia Integrated Infrastructure Study recorded better performance, with $1.2 million disbursed from a $1.7 million approval;

Imo State remains part of the $210 million Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme, though contract awards are still pending; Enugu State benefitted from technical assistance linked to electricity sector reforms.

At the review exchange rate of N1,473 per dollar, approved projects in the South-East were valued at about N252.3 billion, while actual disbursement stood at roughly N45.6 billion.

Overall, AfDB reported that Nigeria’s project disbursement rate improved to 53 per cent by the end of 2025.

The bank also disclosed that “flagged operations”, projects considered vulnerable to delays or implementation failure dropped from 42 per cent in January 2025 to 25 per cent by December. According to AfDB, the improvement followed closer supervision by the bank, the Federal Ministry of Finance and implementing agencies.

However, the institution identified persistent challenges slowing project delivery across Nigeria, including procurement bottlenecks, delays during project take-off stages, counterpart funding shortages and slow release of approved funds.

The report concluded that while the South-East secured significant infrastructure approvals, many projects remain trapped at preliminary stages and are yet to translate into major visible development on the ground.