Experts say Nigeria does not have the capacity to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 as the country requires $350 billion to do so.
This total sum at $350 billion (N126 trillion) is a far cry from the nation’s annual budget at an average of N9 trillion even when accumulated for the next 15 years, experts say.
The SDGs consist of global development aspirations running 2016-2030. They include ensuring eradication of Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy.
Others include: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Reducing Inequality, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life with Water, Life On Land, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions and Partnerships for the Goals.
The current assessment of these goals in Nigeria, shows that over 80 percent of these goals have not recorded any improvement over the years.
Davis Omotola, an Independent development Consultant said that Nigeria may not be able to meet these goals as there has been a rather poor commitment from the government towards the actualization of the goals.
Speaking at the Media dialogue organised by The United Nations children’s Fund on Friday, Omotola noted that the nation is recording increase in its poverty rate as the increase in population exceeds the annual revenue generated in the country.
“We need to get it right in our budgetary allocations and prioritization, focus on achieving some segments of the goals”.
“If there are no policy and budget constraint some of the 17 goals including those to ensure healthy life and promote well being for all at all ages, ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life long learning opportunities for all”.
Omotola identified poor policy implementation, ineffectiveness and coverage, as well as social dislocation and population displacement in the country as the overlaying barriers to achieving the SDGs in Nigeria.
Speaking on the way forward, he said there is need to address the challenges of data and appropriate disaggregated data to aid effective Monitoring as well as develop a market driven skill innovation and technology to improve employment.
Guy Yogo, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Chief of field, Port Harcourt, said that Nigeria’s ability to achieve the SDGs by 2030, is highly dependent on qualitative engagements with its citizens and generating accurate data concerning their social demands and needs.
Yogo noted that quality and accurate data was key to increasing awareness and advocacy towards engendering qualitative policy formulation, especially in improving health indices in infant mortality, maternal mortality, in the country.
“We are at a critical point, so much so that we are facing new issues in Nigeria in our demographic growth as many children today are left behind on their rights. We have a vision to mobilise resources to promote children’s rights.”
“Our momentum is geared towards the acceleration of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). We will change the narratives by speaking on the situation of children and putting forth an accurate narrative about our journey, and move to ensure that we achieve our goals”.
He decried the slow growth rate in health coverage across the country as available data available from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), indicates health challenges that needs to be surmounted.
“For example, under-five mortality is still very high at 132 deaths per 1,000 live births. Also, maternal mortality rate is still high. It is inexplicable that in the 21st century women still lose their lives from child birth,” he noted
