SDGs Must Be Integrated Into Development Plans, Says FG

FG Calls for Full Integration of SDGs into Development Plans

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed the necessity of embedding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into all levels of development planning rather than treating them as isolated projects.

Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (SSAP-SDGs), emphasized this during the North-East Regional Consultation in Gombe. The event was part of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR), set to be presented at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York in July 2025.

Speaking through her Senior Technical Adviser, Dr. Bala Yunusa, she highlighted that the HLPF serves as a global assessment platform for tracking the 2030 Agenda. Nigeria, currently conducting its third VNR, is engaging stakeholders across all six geopolitical zones to assess progress, challenges, and strategies for advancing SDG implementation.

A statement from her Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication, Desmond Utomwen, underscored the urgent need to accelerate progress on the SDGs. According to the 2024 UN Sustainable Development Goals Report:

Only 17% of SDG targets are on track.
Nearly 50% have shown minimal or moderate progress.
Over 33% have stalled or regressed.

The slow progress in Nigeria has been attributed to financial constraints, lingering insecurity, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Strengthening Collaboration for SDG Acceleration

Orelope-Adefulire called for stronger Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) systems, including SDG Progress Reports and the VNR, to track and enhance implementation efforts. She stressed the need for collaboration among key players, including government agencies, the UN Development System, donor organizations, academia, and civil society, to ensure no one is left behind.

Referencing the Pact for the Future adopted at the 79th UN General Assembly, she reaffirmed the commitment of world leaders to bold and ambitious actions for achieving SDG targets. She also echoed UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for massive investments and strategic partnerships to drive transformations in critical sectors such as food security, energy access, and digital connectivity (source).

Key Takeaways from the North-East Regional Consultation

The consultation in Gombe gathered 150 participants from six states to discuss:

Institutional frameworks for SDG implementation.
Progress made across all 17 SDGs.
Challenges and key lessons learned.

Gombe State SDGs Focal Person, Engr. Sulaiman Turaki, described the event as a crucial platform for shaping Nigeria’s upcoming VNR. He encouraged stakeholders to actively contribute to ensure that the review reflects both achievements and ongoing challenges.

“This consultation reaffirms our commitment to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and science-driven solutions for the 2030 Agenda,” Turaki stated. He urged participants to propose practical strategies for improving sustainable development efforts across the North-East region.

With Nigeria actively engaging in multi-stakeholder dialogues and refining its approach to SDG implementation, the government’s emphasis on integrating these goals into long-term national and regional policies is expected to drive meaningful progress towards the 2030 Agenda.