The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fast-tracking the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across all levels in Nigeria.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called on stakeholders to intensify efforts towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Speaking during the Northeast Regional Consultation in Gombe, as part of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, Orelope-Adefulire emphasized the need for urgent action. Her keynote address was delivered on her behalf by Dr. Bala Yunusa, a Senior Technical Adviser.
She highlighted that the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) are central to assessing the country’s SDG progress, with Nigeria currently conducting its third VNR. This process involves stakeholder engagements across all six geopolitical zones to evaluate implementation progress, challenges, and future prospects.
In a statement by her Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication, Desmond Utomwen, the SSAP-SDGs stressed the need to reverse slow progress and accelerate SDG implementation.
Quoting the 2024 United Nations SDG Report, Orelope-Adefulire stated:
“The lack of progress towards the SDGs is a global issue, but developing nations and the world’s poorest populations suffer the most. Currently, only 17% of SDG targets are on track, nearly half show minimal or moderate progress, while over a third have stalled or regressed.”
At the national level, she identified key challenges slowing down SDG implementation in Nigeria, including dwindling financial resources, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing security concerns.
The Federal Government, however, remains committed to overcoming these challenges and ensuring meaningful progress towards the 2030 SDG targets.
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