HALFWAY TO 2015-2030 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: HOW HAS THE JOURNEY FARED SO FAR IN NIGERIA?

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015, provide a global framework for promoting inclusive economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability by 2030. As the implementation period reaches its midpoint, concerns have intensified regarding the likelihood of achieving the SDG targets, particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria. This study assesses progress toward the SDGs between 2015 and 2025, with emphasis on Africa and Nigeria, and evaluates Nigeria's prospects for attaining the 2030 targets. A qualitative review methodology was employed, relying exclusively on secondary data from peer-reviewed journal articles, policy documents, and reports published by the United Nations, World Bank, African Development Bank, National Bureau of Statistics, OSSAP-SDGs, WHO, UNESCO, FAO, and other reputable institutions. The findings indicate that Nigeria has made notable progress in institutionalizing the SDGs, expanding infrastructure, improving renewable energy access, advancing digital transformation, and strengthening development partnerships, with relatively stronger performance in SDGs 7, 9, 11, and 17. However, progress remains uneven, as poverty, food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, educational deficits, gender inequality, weak institutions, insecurity, climate change, and financing constraints continue to impede achievement of several goals. The study concludes that Nigeria is unlikely to achieve all 17 SDGs by 2030 under the current trajectory but can make substantial progress through strengthened governance, increased investment in human capital and infrastructure, improved data systems, climate-resilient policies, and enhanced multi-stakeholder partnerships