Resource information
This country assistance evaluation
assesses the outcomes of the World Banks program in Nigeria
during the period 1998–2007. The Country Assistance
Evaluation focuses on the objectives of that assistance and
the extent to which outcomes were consistent with those
objectives. It looks at the Banks contribution to the
achievement of those outcomes and at the lessons for the
Banks future activities in Nigeria and in other countries.
The evaluation includes a review of relevant documents,
complemented by interviews with Bank staff and other key
donors, as well as with representatives of the Nigerian
government, the private sector, and civil society. Overall,
the outcomes of the Bank program in Nigeria are rated as
moderately unsatisfactory. This reflects an improvement
relative to IEG’s 2000–04 assessment, which rated the
outcome of Bank assistance as unsatisfactory. The current
assessment recognizes the country’s signal achievements in
maintaining macroeconomic stability and laying the basis for
more effective and cost-efficient performance of the central
government. There are major risks associated with this,
however. The earnings from Nigeria’s oil and gas resources
require strong management that puts the national interest
ahead of that of individuals and state governments. In the
fragmented context of Nigerian politics, that is a tough
proposition to maintain. If the government shows the
necessary leadership and successfully leverages the
resources it has to provide incentives to state governments
to do a better job of delivering social services, there is
the potential for real progress in reducing poverty and
achieving the MDGs.
