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Nigeria

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Overview

Nigeria’s Third Voluntary National Review (VNR), published in June 2025, presents a comprehensive whole-of-society assessment of the country’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September 2015. With an estimated population of 232.7 million in 2024 and a GDP of $362.81 billion in 2023, Nigeria has integrated the SDGs into national and sub-national frameworks through initiatives such as the establishment of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) in 2016, the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (2017–2020), the Medium-term National Development Plan (2021–2025), and the launch of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) in September 2022. Despite these commitments, the VNR highlights serious development setbacks, including 63% of Nigerians (133 million people) living in multidimensional poverty in 2022, 73.4% of households experiencing food insecurity in 2021, GDP per capita declining from $2,679.6 in 2015 to $1,621.1 in 2023, and 53% of the urban population living in slums in 2023. The report therefore demonstrates that, although progress has been made in areas such as ICT growth, solar energy expansion, and education access, Nigeria remains significantly off-track in achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Recommendations

  1. Strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and increase public investment in health, education, and social protection sectors.
  2. Improve national statistical systems and expand disaggregated SDG data collection for better monitoring and policymaking.
  3. Expand access to healthcare, especially maternal and child health services, while reducing out-of-pocket expenditure.
  4. Increase investment in electricity, sanitation, roads, housing, and waste management infrastructure.
  5. Strengthen enforcement of laws addressing child marriage, trafficking, gender-based violence, and female genital mutilation.
  6. Accelerate climate adaptation and environmental protection measures, particularly flood management and plastic waste reduction.
  7. Promote formal employment, youth skills development, and industrialisation to reduce unemployment and informality.
  8. Strengthen institutional coordination among MDAs and improve accountability in SDG resource allocation.
  9. Increase awareness and localisation of SDGs at community and local government levels.
  10. Enhance security and stability in vulnerable regions to support effective SDG implementation.

Conclusion

Nigeria’s Third Voluntary National Review (VNR), published in June 2025, demonstrates the country’s continued commitment to the 2030 Agenda despite significant economic, social, and environmental challenges. Since adopting the SDGs in September 2015 and establishing the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) in 2016, Nigeria has integrated the SDGs into the Medium-term National Development Plan (2021–2025), Nigeria Agenda 2050, and the Renewed Hope Agenda. Important progress includes the launch of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) in September 2022, an increase in primary school attendance from 60.9% in 2016 to 68.4% in 2021, growth of ICT contribution to GDP to 18% in Q2 2022, expansion of solar capacity from 4 megawatts in 2014 to 112 megawatts in 2023, and recovery of diaspora remittances to $20.16 billion in 2022. However, major challenges remain severe, including 63% of Nigerians (133 million people) living in multidimensional poverty in 2022, food insecurity affecting 73.4% of households in 2021, 25 million people projected to be food insecure in 2024, GDP per capita declining to $1,621.1 in 2023, 53% of the urban population living in slums in 2023, and Nigeria ranking 180 out of 192 countries in climate-response readiness in 2022. Moving forward, Nigeria aims to strengthen data systems, improve financing, deepen stakeholder engagement, expand inclusive economic growth, and accelerate action in health, education, gender equality, infrastructure, and climate resilience through stronger institutional coordination and whole-of-society participation.

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SDGs Progress Tracker
  • SDGs Completion % 4
  • SDGs On-Track % 0
  • SDGs Achieved % 0
Voluntary National Reports
Country Focal Point

Dr Bala Yusuf Yunusa
Senior Technical Advisor
Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs Abuja

Location

Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

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Region
  • Nigeria
No Poverty
Score: 0
Justification Multidimensional poverty worsened to 63% of the population (133 million people). Child poverty and regional disparities remain severe.
Challenges Shrinking fiscal space, inflation, and weak social protection systems limit poverty reduction efforts.
Progress/

Solution

 Poverty reduction and social inclusion are integrated into the National Development Plan (2021–2025) and Nigeria Agenda 2050.
Unsolved Challenges Poverty remains widespread, particularly among children and rural populations, with inadequate social safety nets.

 

Zero Hunger
Score: 0
Justification Food insecurity increased from 34.7% in 2015 to 69.7% in 2021. Around 25 million people were projected to be food insecure in 2024, while child stunting reached 40%.
Challenges Insecurity, inflation, low agricultural productivity, and climate shocks affect food systems.
Progress/

Solution

 The Nutrition 774 Initiative and community nutrition programmes are addressing malnutrition and food access.
Unsolved Challenges Hunger, undernutrition, and child stunting remain critically high across many regions.
Good Health
Score: 0
Justification Maternal mortality reached 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. Full vaccination coverage increased only from 31% in 2018 to 39% in 2023–24, while zero-dose children rose to 31% (2.1 million).
Challenges Low health financing, brain drain of health workers, weak healthcare infrastructure, and regional disparities continue to affect service delivery.
Progress/

Solution

 Nigeria launched the Safe Motherhood Strategy (2024–2028), MAMII programme, Immunization Recovery Plan, and upgraded over 2,100 PHCs through the NHSRII.
Unsolved Challenges Out-of-pocket spending still accounts for 70–80% of health expenditure, while maternal and child mortality remain extremely high.
Quality Education
Score: 0
Justification Primary school attendance improved slightly, but secondary school attendance declined. No detailed SDG 4 data was provided.
Challenges Poor education financing, insecurity, inadequate facilities, and regional inequalities affect school attendance.
Progress/

Solution

 Education access and community support programmes continue at federal and state levels.
Unsolved Challenges Secondary school participation and learning outcomes remain weak, especially in rural areas.
Gender Equality
Score: 1
Justification Nigeria still has 22 million child brides. Child marriage among women declined from 44.1% in 2017 to 30.3% in 2022, while female parliamentary representation declined from 6% in 2015 to 4.2% in 2024. FGM prevalence remained 15.1% in 2021.
Challenges Harmful socio-cultural practices, weak law enforcement, and low political will continue to hinder gender equality.
Progress/

Solution

 Nigeria implemented the VAPP Act, National Gender Policy (2021–2026), anti-trafficking programmes, and women empowerment initiatives.
Unsolved Challenges Child marriage, FGM, low female political representation, and gender discrimination remain widespread.
Water & Sanitation
Score: 1
Justification Access to improved sanitation increased from 35.9% in 2016 to 57.5% in 2021.
Challenges Inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure, weak maintenance systems, and poor waste management remain major barriers.
Progress/

Solution

 Sanitation and hygiene programmes improved access in some communities.
Unsolved Challenges Access to safe water and sanitation remains insufficient in many rural and urban communities.
Clean Energy
Score: 0
Justification Only 60% of Nigerians had access to electricity, leaving 92 million people without power.
Challenges Poor electricity infrastructure, weak investment, and energy financing gaps limit expansion.
Progress/

Solution

 Solar energy investments and energy infrastructure expansion are ongoing.
Unsolved Challenges Nigeria continues to have the world’s largest energy access deficit.
Decent Work
Score: 1
Justification GDP per capita declined from $2,679.6 in 2015 to $1,621.1 in 2023. Informal employment reached 92.7% in 2023, while over 50% of children engaged in economic activities.
Challenges Low industrialisation, economic instability, unemployment, and skills mismatch continue to affect decent work opportunities.
Progress/

Solution

 Nigeria introduced Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) support, vocational training, youth employment programmes, and labour reforms.
Unsolved Challenges Informal employment and child labour remain extremely high, with limited formal job creation.
Industry & Infrastructure
Score: 0
Justification ICT contribution to GDP increased to 18% in 2022, but infrastructure deficits remain severe.
Challenges Weak transport systems, inadequate power supply, and poor industrial infrastructure continue to slow development.
Progress/

Solution

 Nigeria expanded broadband infrastructure and planned an additional 90,000 km of fibre optic cables by 2025.
Unsolved Challenges Infrastructure shortages continue to constrain industrial growth and innovation.
Inequality
Score: 0
Justification Poverty, regional disparities, and declining household incomes remain widespread.
Challenges Unequal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities persists across regions.
Progress/

Solution

 Social inclusion and gender-responsive programmes continue in some sectors.
Unsolved Challenges Rural populations, women, and vulnerable groups continue to face significant inequality.
Sustainable Cities
Score: 0
Justification The proportion of the urban population living in slums or inadequate housing increased from 30% in 2015 to 53% in 2023.
Challenges Rapid urbanisation, poor housing infrastructure, and weak urban planning continue to strain cities.
Progress/

Solution

 Urban planning and housing programmes are included in national development frameworks.
Unsolved Challenges Slum growth, overcrowding, and poor living conditions remain major urban challenges.
Responsible Consumption
Score: 0
Justification Plastic waste accounts for around 34% of solid waste, while pollution of water bodies is increasing.
Challenges Weak enforcement, poor waste collection systems, and inadequate recycling infrastructure hinder progress.
Progress/

Solution

 Nigeria plans to ban single-use plastics by 2025 and introduced recycling and circular economy initiatives.
Unsolved Challenges Plastic pollution and unsustainable waste management continue to threaten environmental health.
Climate Action
Score: 0
Justification Nigeria ranks 180 out of 192 countries in climate-response readiness and faces severe flooding, erosion, and oil spillage.
Challenges Weak climate resilience, environmental degradation, and insufficient funding limit climate action.
Progress/

Solution

 Climate adaptation measures, environmental reforms, and blue economy initiatives are being introduced.
Unsolved Challenges Flooding, displacement, and environmental risks continue to increase across the country.

 

Life Below Water
Score: 1
Justification Plastic pollution in rivers and oceans continues to rise significantly.
Challenges Weak waste management systems and inadequate environmental enforcement affect marine ecosystems.
Progress/

Solution

 Nigeria introduced single-use plastic bans, recycling initiatives, and marine protection commitments.
Unsolved Challenges Marine pollution and degradation of aquatic ecosystems remain unresolved.

 

Life on Land
Score: 0
Justification No dedicated data on biodiversity, forest cover, or land degradation was presented in the VNR.
Challenges Weak environmental monitoring systems and land degradation continue to affect ecosystems.
Progress/

Solution

 Environmental sustainability and land management initiatives are included in broader policy frameworks.
Unsolved Challenges Biodiversity loss and environmental degradation remain major concerns.
Peace & Justice
Score: 0
Justification No measurable SDG 16 progress indicators were presented, while insecurity remains a major issue.
Challenges Weak institutional coordination, insecurity, corruption, and limited enforcement affect implementation.
Progress/

Solution

 Nigeria strengthened institutional coordination mechanisms and governance structures linked to SDGs.
Unsolved Challenges Security threats and governance weaknesses continue to undermine SDG progress.
Partnerships
Score: 1
Justification Diaspora remittances contributed around 6% of GDP, internet penetration increased from 26% in 2018 to over 38% in 2022, and the tax-to-GDP ratio rose from 5.5% in 2020 to 6.7% in 2021.
Challenges Low domestic revenue mobilisation, fiscal deficits, and inadequate SDG financing limit implementation capacity.
Progress/

Solution

 Nigeria launched the Integrated National Financing Framework, tax reforms, telecom investments, and diaspora banking initiatives.
Unsolved Challenges Government revenue remained low at 9.6% of GDP in 2023, while funding gaps continue to slow SDG progress.
SDGs World Progress: Severely Off-Track
  • SDG5
  • SDG6
  • SDG8
  • SDG14
  • SDG17
SDGs World Progress: No Progress
  • SDG1
  • SDG2
  • SDG3
  • SDG4
  • SDG7
  • SDG9
  • SDG10
  • SDG11
  • SDG12
  • SDG13
  • SDG15
  • SDG16
Country Challenges
  1. Fiscal Constraints and Economic Vulnerabilities: Government revenue remained low at 9.6% of GDP in 2023, while foreign exchange instability and oil subsidy removal reduced fiscal space and weakened public financing capacity. GDP per capita declined from $2,679.6 in 2015 to $1,621.1 in 2023.
  2. Poverty and Food Insecurity: In 2022, 63% of Nigerians (133 million people) were multidimensionally poor. Food insecurity increased sharply, with 73.4% of households affected in 2021 and 25 million people projected to be food insecure in 2024. Child stunting reached 40% in 2023–2024.
  3. Data Deficiencies: Limited recent and disaggregated SDG data, weak local reporting systems, and poor record-keeping continue to hinder evidence-based policymaking and SDG monitoring.
  4. Weak Social Services: Healthcare and education remain underfunded. Skilled antenatal care attendance declined from 67% in 2018 to 63% in 2023–2024, while healthcare infrastructure and emergency services remain inadequate.
  5. Gender Inequality: Nigeria continues to have the highest number of child brides in Africa at 22 million. Female genital mutilation prevalence remained 15.1% in 2021, while female parliamentary representation declined to 4.2% in 2024.
  6. Unemployment and Informality: Informal employment remained extremely high, while 50.5% of children were engaged in economic activities in 2022. Household disposable income declined from $419.50 in 2019 to $209.4 in 2024.
  7. Infrastructure Deficits: Only 60% of Nigerians had access to electricity in 2022, leaving 92 million people without power. Poor roads, housing, sanitation, and waste management continue to constrain development.
  8. Climate and Environmental Risks: Nigeria ranked 180 out of 192 countries for climate-response readiness in 2022. Flooding in 2020 caused 68 deaths and displaced 129,000 people. Plastic pollution of water bodies is also increasing.
  9. Institutional Weaknesses: Weak coordination among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), poor resource allocation, and limited institutional capacity continue to slow SDG implementation.
  10. Security Threats: Insecurity in several states and local government areas continues to disrupt service delivery, economic activities, and SDG programmes.
  11. Limited SDG Awareness: Awareness of the SDGs remains low, especially in rural communities, with limited resources available for outreach and engagement.
Country Lessons Learned
  1. Strong Institutional Coordination: Dedicated SDG coordination mechanisms within the Presidency and sub-national governments improve policy alignment and political ownership.
  2. Inclusive VNR Processes: Broad stakeholder participation, including youth, women, civil society, and persons with disabilities, strengthens accountability and national ownership.
  3. Importance of Data Systems: Realignment of national statistical systems and improved data collection are essential for evidence-based policymaking and monitoring.
  4. Sustained Political Commitment: Continuous government commitment across administrations is necessary to maintain SDG implementation momentum.
  5. Community Engagement: Engaging local communities and addressing harmful socio-cultural practices are essential for effective SDG localisation.
  6. International Collaboration: Participation in global SDG evaluation and policy discussions supports knowledge exchange and institutional learning.
Country Contribution
  1. Nigeria established the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) in 2016 to coordinate national SDG implementation.
  2. The Nigeria Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) was launched in September 2022 to strengthen sustainable development financing.
  3. Solar energy capacity increased significantly from 4 megawatts in 2014 to 112 megawatts in 2023.
  4. ICT sector contribution to GDP increased from 9.88% in Q4 2021 to 18% in Q2 2022, strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy.
  5. Full vaccination coverage improved from 31% in 2018 to 39% in 2023–2024 through immunisation recovery programmes.
  6. Primary school net attendance increased from 60.9% in 2016 to 68.4% in 2021.
  7. Female genital mutilation prevalence declined from 18.4% in 2016 to 15.1% in 2021.
  8. Diaspora remittances recovered to $20.16 billion in 2022, contributing around 6% of GDP.
  9. Nigeria expanded broadband and telecom infrastructure, with over 83 million internet users recorded in 2022.
  10. The Federal Government announced plans to ban single-use plastics by 2025 to reduce environmental pollution.

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