World Bank has restricted instagram comments amid backlash over Tinubu’s controversial $1.25bn loan request.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the World Bank appears to have restricted comments on parts of its Instagram page following growing backlash from Nigerians over the Federal Government’s plan to secure a fresh $1.25 billion loan facility under President Bola Tinubu.
The reactions followed an exclusive report by The PUNCH revealing that the Federal Government is in advanced talks with the World Bank on a proposed facility aimed at supporting economic reforms, electricity expansion, digital infrastructure, agriculture, and job creation initiatives.
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The proposed loan, tagged Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration, is expected to be presented for approval on June 26, 2026; about six months before the January 16, 2027 presidential election, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s revised timetable.
If approved, the facility would become the second-largest single World Bank loan secured under Tinubu’s administration, behind the $1.5 billion Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation Development Policy Financing approved in June 2024.
At the official exchange rate of N1,361.4 to one dollar, the proposed facility is valued at approximately N1.7 trillion, further highlighting the scale of external borrowing being pursued by the Federal Government amid ongoing economic reforms.
Following the report, many Nigerians reportedly stormed the World Bank’s social media platforms, urging the institution to halt additional lending to Nigeria over concerns about the country’s rising debt burden and worsening economic hardship.
Checks also showed a surge in engagement on the World Bank’s Instagram page amid the controversy surrounding the proposed loan request.
However, investigations revealed that the comment restriction appeared to be device-specific, as some iPhone users could not access the comment section, while the option remained available on certain Android devices.
A senior World Bank source, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to comment publicly, dismissed claims that the restriction was linked to Nigerians’ reactions.
According to the source, the issue was likely technical and not an intentional move by the institution to silence critics.
The latest borrowing plan has intensified scrutiny over Nigeria’s growing dependence on multilateral loans under Tinubu’s administration.
Findings indicate that between June 2023 and May 2026, the World Bank approved approximately $9.35 billion in loans and credits for Nigeria across sectors including power, healthcare, education, agriculture, renewable energy, social protection, MSME financing, and economic reforms.
Some of the major facilities approved during the period include the $2.25 billion RESET and ARMOR reform financing in June 2024, $1.57 billion for the HOPE and SPIN programmes in September 2024, and $1.08 billion for education and resilience projects approved in March 2025.
If the proposed $1.25 billion loan receives approval next month, total World Bank approvals under Tinubu would rise to about $10.6 billion, further cementing the institution’s position as one of Nigeria’s largest external financiers.
Despite the approvals, reports noted that many of the loans are not immediately disbursed, as fund releases are usually tied to the implementation of specific policy and reform conditions.
