The World Bank has reportedly restricted comments on its Instagram page following a wave of reactions from Nigerians protesting against fresh loans to the country.
The online backlash followed reports that the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking approval for a new $1.25 billion loan expected to be considered on June 26.
Thousands of Nigerians reportedly flooded the World Bank’s social media platform with comments urging the institution to stop granting additional loans to Nigeria amid growing concerns over the country’s rising debt profile and economic hardship.
Many commenters expressed fears that continuous borrowing could worsen Nigeria’s financial burden and increase pressure on citizens already battling inflation, unemployment, and high living costs.
Following the surge of reactions, users observed that comments on some posts linked to the World Bank’s Instagram account had been restricted, sparking further debate online.
The development has since generated widespread discussion across social media, with many Nigerians questioning the sustainability of the country’s borrowing strategy under the current administration.
Critics of the proposed loan argue that the Federal Government should focus more on boosting local productivity, reducing waste, and improving revenue generation instead of relying heavily on external borrowing.
Supporters of government borrowing, however, maintain that concessional loans from institutions like the World Bank are necessary to finance infrastructure, social investments, and economic reforms.
Neither the World Bank nor the Nigerian government had issued an official statement on the reported comment restriction as of the time of filing this report.
