The Nigerian Federal Government and the United Nations (UN) have reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with renewed emphasis on innovative financing, poverty reduction, social protection, and inclusive development as the 2030 deadline approaches.
The commitment was reiterated at the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) Joint Steering Committee Meeting on Monday in Abuja, where government officials, UN agencies, development partners, labour representatives, civil society organisations and other stakeholders reviewed progress made under the 2023-2027 cooperation framework.
Speaking during the event, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, described the UNSDCF 2023-2027 as the strategic framework guiding collaboration between the UN system and Nigeria to achieve the SDGs, while supporting the implementation of the country’s National Development Plan and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to Fall, the framework marks a significant shift from previous cooperation arrangements by placing greater emphasis on UN system coherence, strategic partnerships, stakeholder participation and alignment with the SDGs.
He explained that the framework was developed through extensive consultations with the Nigerian government and key stakeholders, in line with global principles of aid effectiveness and national ownership.
Fall noted that the cooperation framework is built around four interconnected pillars: people, prosperity, peace and planet, which collectively drive sustainable development.
“Prosperity cannot happen without peace, and peace cannot endure without development. Opportunities must be accessible to all, while protection of vulnerable populations and the environment remain essential,” he said.
The UN Resident Coordinator stressed that the current phase of implementation comes at a pivotal moment as Nigeria advances the Renewed Hope Agenda, develops its next national development plan and moves closer to the 2030 target for achieving the SDGs.
Highlighting achievements recorded under the framework, Fall said millions of Nigerians had benefited from interventions in health, nutrition, Education, humanitarian assistance, disaster preparedness and governance.
According to him, more than two million people in Nigeria and other vulnerable communities received essential support, including cash assistance during lean periods, while approximately 2.6 million people benefited from disaster risk reduction programmes designed to strengthen resilience against shocks and emergencies.
In the area of nutrition, Fall disclosed that nearly one million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition received life-saving treatment in 2025, with intervention programmes recording cure rates of nearly 90 per cent.
He added that about 40 million children received Vitamin A supplementation, while preparedness plans were developed to strengthen regional responses to Ebola and Mpox outbreaks across West Africa.
The UN official further revealed that approximately 190 million children were reached through polio vaccination campaigns, describing the Presidential Declaration on National Health Insurance as a transformative step toward expanding healthcare access and ensuring predictable financing for vulnerable populations.
In the area of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Fall said more than 9 million Nigerians gained access to improved services. At the same time, 4.2 million people benefited from initiatives that promoted safer, cleaner environments.
Education, he noted, remained a major focus of the cooperation framework, with 6.8 million children reached through school programmes across 18 states.
Additionally, more than 66,000 out-of-school children were successfully re-enrolled in formal Education. At the same time, the rollout of the Nigeria Education Information System is expected to improve education planning and management nationwide.
On his part, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, described the partnership between Nigeria and the United Nations as critical to achieving measurable development outcomes and ensuring accountability in the delivery of agreed commitments.
Bagudu stressed that, with less than 4 years remaining to achieve the SDGs, governments, development partners, and the private sector must intensify efforts to accelerate sustainable development.
According to him, Nigeria’s ongoing macroeconomic reforms have helped unlock resources previously tied to inefficient subsidy regimes, creating opportunities for greater investments in health, education and social development programmes.
He, however, noted that public resources alone would not be sufficient to meet the scale of investment required to achieve the SDGs.
“The reality is that the Sustainable Development Goals require more resources than governments alone can provide. We must unlock private capital and mobilise innovative financing mechanisms that can support development at scale,” Bagudu said.
He added that creating access to skills, financing and opportunities for hardworking Nigerians remains critical to reducing poverty and driving inclusive growth.
“There is no reason why hardworking Nigerians should remain poor if they have access to the right skills, financing and opportunities. Together with development partners, we can create the scale required to transform livelihoods and communities,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind in the country’s development efforts.
He highlighted the implementation of the One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), a national coordination framework designed to harmonise humanitarian interventions, social protection programmes and poverty reduction initiatives.
According to him, the framework promotes collaboration among federal and state governments, development partners, UN agencies, civil society organisations and the private sector to improve coordination and accountability.
The minister also outlined the role of the National Poverty Intelligence Lab, which serves as the data and evidence backbone of Nigeria’s poverty reduction strategy by generating and analysing multidimensional poverty data in real time.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda and the 2030 Agenda share a common objective-ending poverty, expanding healthcare and education, strengthening food security, empowering women and youth, and building resilient communities,” he said.
He commended the continued support of the United Nations, bilateral and multilateral partners, civil society organisations and the private sector, describing their contributions as vital to improving the lives of millions of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, called for stronger institutional collaboration, enhanced project preparation mechanisms, improved implementation frameworks and innovative financing models to bridge funding gaps and accelerate progress towards the SDGs.
She also urged the media to continue highlighting the partnership’s impact and raising public awareness of efforts to achieve the global development goals.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed optimism that through stronger partnerships, improved policy coordination, innovative financing and sustained commitment, Nigeria can make significant progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and improving the lives of millions of citizens before 2030.
