Sustainable Development Goals and Nigeria

According to the United Nations, at least 400 million people in Nigeria lack access to basic healthcare and 40% have no social protection. The Sustainable Development Goals aim to reduce neglected tropical diseases, AIDS, hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases. The Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan was launched to align the SDGs with a target of 2030. Among the goals is to reduce the maternal mortality ratio to 70/100,000 live births.[9]

In 2016, Nigeria's Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) reported that it has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, an estimated 10.5 million.[10] Hence, the implementation of the State Universal Basic Education Board's provision for free Universal Basic Education for every Nigerian child of school-going age.

In 2000, Nigeria passed into law the National Policy on Women guided by the global instrument of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).[11] In 2015, a National Bureau of Statistics report showed improvement in girls' access to education, with enrollment for females in primary and secondary schools increased from 46.7% and 47.1% in 2010 to 48.3% and 47.9% respectively in 2015.[12]

According to UNICEF, poor water supply and sanitation cost the Nigerian economy approximately 1.3% of GDP annually.[13]

Nigeria has one of the highest energy access deficits globally, with about 90 million Nigerians (50% of the population) lacking access to grid electricity.[14] Nigeria claims to achieve a 13% contribution of hydroelectricity to the electricity generation mix by 2020; a 1% contribution of wind energy to the nation's electricity generation mix by 2020; and a 3% and 6% contribution of solar energy to the nation's electricity generation mix by 2020 and 2030 respectively.

Technological progress in Nigeria is dependent on access to information, digital platforms and the Internet. A 2013 Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) report showed there are over 70 million Micro Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) contributing 50% of the nation's GDP, but it was noted that less than 5% of these businesses have adequate access to financial credit.[15] The priority areas of assistance to these MSMEs are access to finance, provision of infrastructure, and regular power supply.[15]

In July 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari presented the Voluntary National Review at the HLPF's second panel session, online for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He gave the progress of seven of the SDGs which are referred to as core to the country at large.[17]

On 1 July 2020, Nigeria officially commenced the process of designing and implementing an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) for financing national development priorities and achieving the SDGs.[18] The Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) is a United Nations initiative to support countries in operationalizing the agreements of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) for financing the SDGs. UNDP has been supporting the government and its people by addressing development challenges, strengthening and building institutions that promote inclusive sustainable development and democratic governance.[19] For example, during the COVID-19 crisis, UNDP partnered with Japan to support Nigeria's health and socio-economic response.[20]

There are various institutions across the country committed to creating SDGs awareness, one of these is the University of Ibadan Centre for Sustainable development (CESDEV). The Centre was established by the University of Ibadan as a demonstration of the university's commitment to sustainable development.[21]

The Lagos SDSs Week is an annual week-long event commemorated by coalescing cross-sectoral stakeholders to synergise Altruism, Advocacy & Action with a view to identifying solutions, reviewing progress, amplifying awareness, collaborating and reaffirming commitment towards accelerating efforts to achieve the 2030 SDGs.[22][23] The SDGs week features the following programmes: Mr. Governor's Virtual Meet-And-Greet with Lagos SDGs Enablers, Open Goal Adoption by Prominent Lagosians, Neighbourhood Outreach Campaign, Future of Lagos Hackathon, Lagos Local Government / LCDAs Discourse on SDGs. These programmes are intrinsically linked in their purpose to fast-track efforts towards progress for the delivery of the SDGs in Lagos State.[24][25]