AfDB grants $46 million loan to boost healthcare in Sokoto 

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $46 million loan to fund a major healthcare infrastructure project in Sokoto State, Nigeria, marking the fifth in a series of interventions aimed at improving health outcomes across the country. The previous four projects totaled $117.68 million.

This is big news for Northern Nigeria, where underfunding and poor infrastructure have long driven the region’s poor maternal and child health outcomes. 

Only 1 in 20 children is fully vaccinated. Infant mortality is at a staggering 104 deaths per 1,000 live births, nearly double the national average of 63. And there’s just one doctor for every 8,285 people—a far cry from the World Health Organization’s recommended 1:1,000 doctor-patient ratio.

The project will construct and equip a 1,000-bed teaching hospital complex; three zonal hospitals with a combined capacity of 450 beds; and six primary healthcare centers strategically to underserved communities. It will also support the rehabilitation of health training institutions and the development of a modern medical warehouse to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains. While creating thousands of gainful employment opportunities for the local population.

“By strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Sokoto State, we are building hope and creating pathways to better health outcomes for millions of Nigerians,” said Abdul Kamara, Director General of the African Development Bank’s Nigeria Office. Kamara added that the investment will assist the state government to fill critical infrastructure gaps in Nigeria’s health system while building resilient, climate-adapted healthcare facilities.

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According to the bank, the project will be implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), USAID, and other development partners. It aligns with Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021–2025) and the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.