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Tag: SDGs

  • FG review SDGs implementation in South-East

    FG review SDGs implementation in South-East

    The Federal Government has undertaken a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the South-East region, utilizing the 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) framework, with the express purpose of achieving the established targets by 2030.

    Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, the Lead Consultant responsible for the Development of Nigeria’s VNR, made this announcement during a review event held under the theme of “Regional Stakeholders Consultation” in Enugu on Wednesday.

    The event in Enugu, centered on the VNR (a national progress reporting process for the 2030 Agenda), provided a platform for stakeholders from four South-East states to assess SDGs implementation.

    Dr. Ipaye underscored the importance of collaborative idea exchange and strategy development among stakeholders to achieve SDG goals.

    He said the Southeast Consultation Forum was aimed at discussing ways to tackle critical challenges facing the region.

    In her keynote address, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, said the 2030 Agenda provided a holistic development framework for addressing economic, social and environmental challenges.

    Orelope-Adefulire explained that out of the 366 VNRs conducted and presented by 191 countries, Nigeria has presented two VNRs in 2017 and 2020 with the hope to present its third VNR this year.

    “Conceptually, the VNRs are more useful when conducted through an inclusive, broad-based and participatory process.

    “This is exactly why we are here to consult widely with key stakeholders across the key segments of the Nigerian society.

    “This is our idea of the ‘whole of government and society’ approach to the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria.”

    “Incidentally, this year’s VNR is coming at a time the world leaders adopted the “Pact for the Future” during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last September,” she said.

    She added that through the pact, “our leaders have collectively reaffirmed their commitment to take bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions to fast-track the achievement of the SDGs”.

    Also speaking, Mr Yahaya Umar, Head VNR Secretariat, said that citizen engagement was vital to the successful implementation of the SDGs.

    In her remarks, Onyinye Okpalama, SDGs Focal Person in Enugu State, commended the state’s efforts, rating it high on SGDs implementation plan.

    Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Enugu’s Secretary to the State Government, said the event was for celebrating successes and addressing gaps, noting inclusivity for rural areas and youth via technology.

    He urged innovative solutions, partnerships, and amplifying marginalized voices for SDG achievement.

    Onyia emphasized the SDGs as a call to action, stating the South-East’s vital role in Nigeria’s progress.
    Success was attributed to state socioeconomic policies.

    “While progress has been made in the South-East region in areas such as access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, we must ask ourselves: Are these advancements reaching those who need them the most?

    “Are rural communities benefiting from these interventions to the degree that we leave no one behind,” he asked.
    According to him, let us not only be bold in identifying challenges but also innovative in proposing solutions. Let us strengthen collaborations and partnerships that will drive meaningful change.

    “Most importantly, let us ensure that the voices of the people, especially those at the grassroots who we as various stakeholders represent, are heard, respected, and integrated into the overall national report,” he said.

  • Oyo State Govt strengthens framework for SDGs

    Oyo State Govt strengthens framework for SDGs

    The Oyo State Government says it has worked diligently to establish the policy, institutional, and financial mechanisms necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, stated this on Wednesday in Ibadan during a one-day training workshop on the preparation of the 2024 Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) – SDGs.

    The training was organised for directors of budget, research, statistics, and SDG desk officers across the 33 Local Government Areas of the state.

    Also in attendance were directors of budget, research, and statistics from various ministries, departments, and agencies of the state government.

    The theme of the workshop was ‘Expected Official Roles and Responsibilities Towards the Successful Implementation of the 2024 CGS-SDGs.’

    Babatunde, who also serves as Chairman of the State Implementation Committee on SDGs, said the training was designed to accelerate the implementation of the goals in Oyo State.

    Represented by the Senior Special Assistant on SDGs, Mr Muftau Ogunremi, Babatunde noted that the SDGs were intended to guide the world toward a path of inclusive and sustainable development.

    He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to delivering development benefits at the grassroots level through various projects and programmes.

    In his goodwill message, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Salihu Adelabu, stated that his ministry was ready to provide all necessary records for the successful implementation of the SDGs.

    According to Adelabu, the state government relies on data, science, and logic to drive development.

    He pledged that his ministry would supply the required data through the Education Management Information System (EMIS) unit to facilitate access to educational grants.

    Adelabu urged all participants at the workshop to make the most of the training, ensuring that data collection is effectively used to drive development in the state.

    The Statistician-General of the State, Mr Adekunle Ajuwon, highlighted the importance of data collection in securing grants and obtaining the information necessary for achieving the SDGs.

    He assured that all relevant data for the implementation of the SDGs was available in the state.

    Ajuwon called on all stakeholders and workshop participants to actively engage in the process and commit themselves to the successful execution of the programme.

  • UNGA 78th session opens with call to put SDGs on track

    UNGA 78th session opens with call to put SDGs on track

    UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has encouraged all delegates of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to stay optimistic and work together to get the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track.

    Mohammed made the call at the opening of 78th session of UNGA on Tuesday in New York.

    “Let us forge the solutions that all people expect and make progress towards a better, more peaceful and prosperous future, and a healthier planet.”

    The deputy secretary-general emphasised that the General Assembly represented “our common humanity” and “our shared commitment” to peace, sustainable development and human rights.

    In his inaugural address as the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis, outlined his four key priorities or “watchwords” for the session: peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability.

    He acknowledged the complex challenges facing the world, including climate change, conflict and poverty, which have made peace more elusive, while geopolitical divides have bred scepticism towards multilateral systems.

    “As the UN’s chief policy making body, the General Assembly bears a special responsibility to ensure that our efforts must be anchored in a robust multilateral system, faithful to the cherished values and principles enshrined in UN Charter,” he said.

    Against this background, he highlighted the Assembly’s Security Council veto initiative as a step towards transparency and accountability regarding the application of the veto.

    Turning to the second watchword, the Assembly President underscored the need for tailored solutions in challenges of in-conflict and post-conflict countries, and urged Member States to follow through on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

    “In doing so, we must also accelerate the transition to clean energy and boost support for adaptation by making climate finance more available, more accessible and more affordable,” he said.

    Francis also highlighted the unique circumstances of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), urging renewed effort to follow through on their specific development agendas.

    He also emphasised the importance of the SDGs and the upcoming SDG Summit as a critical opportunity to accelerate progress.

    “How the Summit unfolds will set the tone for the rest of the General Assembly agenda this session; and for the 2030 over the next seven years,” he said.

    He also highlighted the need for global solidarity and cooperation in building resilient health systems in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the need for financing to realise the ambitious development goals (SDGs).

    Francis underlined the urgent need to address climate change and biodiversity loss, emphasising the need for transformative climate action, as well as the critical relationship with water – the common resource fundamental to all life, yet one that remains inadequately conserved and prioritised.

    “We need a green ‘blue revolution’ that addresses and indeed brings together concerns around water, climate, biodiversity, and land and soil degradation and global food security.

    “This is the only way to guarantee that the right to a clean and sustainable environment is upheld for all,” he said.

    The 78th session of the UN General Assembly opens Tuesday with the inauguration of a new President, Dennis Francis of Trinidad and Tobago, who will take on the mantle for the next 12 months.

    High-level political forum on sustainable development also known as the SDG Summit will hold on Sept. 18, while the high level General Debate will hold from Sept. 19 to Sept. 29.

    Nigerian President Bola Tinubu will address the Assembly on Sept. 19.

    The theme of the General Assembly, including the general debate, will be rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity, accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.

    NAN

  • Nigerian beauty Queen moves to promote UN SDGs through pet project

    Nigerian beauty Queen moves to promote UN SDGs through pet project

    Miss Evelyn Chigozie, a Nigerian Beauty pageant Queen 3, has moved to promote the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through her pet project.
    The queen, who is also the current Miss Africa United Nations, a contest which she won sometimes in May at the 10th edition of the UN pageant, identified her pet project as “SDGs family and business showcase”, in Abuja on Friday.
    Chigozie while unveiling her pet project said that the cardinal objective of the SDGs showcase was to domesticate the UN SDGs, uphold profound family and ethical cultural values.
    Others are to recognise and encourage corporate brands who are achieving the SDGs through their personal projects, launch the one goal-one family initiative and empower people together for a new world.
    The beauty queen said that the pet project sought to enhance SDG achievements to boost child rights, give access to school, healthcare, reduced malnutrition and safe water.
    Chigozie stated that the SDGs showcase project was also to promote girl child education, saying no to pornography, molestation, rape, reduce maternal mortality, women empowerment and others.
    She called on those who are bold enough to promote the UN SDGs to join the SDGs showcase project 2022 to win amazing prices, including access to grants, endorsement deals and opportunity to launch into the movie and creative industry.
    “Each participant will be interviewed, trained, equipped, empowered and mentored to become role models, ambassadors and choose a specific UN SDG goal to execute which she said would improve the lives of those in their communities.
    She added that this would further create massive awareness of the UN SDGs and contributed to the domestication and quantum achievement of the goals in almost every Nigerian home.
    According to her, the showcase represents a humanitarian platform, where families, businesses and the government can demonstrate their passion for nation building in line with the UN SDG goals.
    She said that the project was a joint initiative and value-driven humanitarian project of Africa United Nations diamonds pageant that combined a unique blend of SDGs, Pageantry, entertainment and humanitarian.
    She added that it was an effective tool for promoting and domesticating the UN SDGs, mobilizing supports, enhancing social entrepreneurial skills.
    According to her, it will connect participants with business linkage opportunities and access to grants to make lasting impact in their community.
    She said it would achieve the target for 1,000 youths, women and girls as beneficiaries for cash and kind over an eight-year period of 2022 to 2030 from the proceeds of the SDGs Showcase.
    Chigozie however, commended the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, the National Assembly especially the  President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    She also commended the Senate and House Committee Chairmen on SDGs among others on their numerous outstanding efforts to ensure that Nigeria meets her SDGs.
  • 2023: Nigeria’s greatest challenge is lack of elite consensus – Peter Obi

    2023: Nigeria’s greatest challenge is lack of elite consensus – Peter Obi

     

    …says it would be foolhardy for anyone to sugarcoat our current morass

    Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi has said Nigeria’s greatest challenge is lack of elite consensus.

    TheNewsGuru com, (TNG) reports Obi disclosed this at the Labour Party – Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO) Summit in Abuja on Thursday.

    Obi said:”Great nations are built through political alliances. Our founding fathers understood and forged alliances in the national interest.

    “But things changed. Our leaders became selfish, myopic ad corrupt. And our people suffered. That narrative and mindset must change.

    “Youth, Governance and A New Nigeria
    The new alliance we seek is between Nigerian Youths, the Labour Party, which represent Nigerian workers, and Like Minds. Collectively, it is an alliance of the OBIdients!

    “Nigeria is at crossroads and it would be foolhardy for anyone to sugarcoat our current morass. Ravaging insecurity, largely inflicted by non-state actors, is fast threatening the sovereignty of Nigeria.

    “Nigeria is today vastly polarized and wracked by deep divisions along religious, ethnic and regional lines. There is a staggering level of corruption. Our universities have remained closed for over five months. While our healthcare system remains comatose, power generation and distribution are also at all-time low.

    “I have consistently maintained that while there is a need for the sustenance of the hard approach to fighting insecurity, there is urgent need to tackle poverty and those social and economic malaise that exacerbate the crises. We cannot have 33% unemployment rate, 18.5 million out of school children and 100 million poor people, in Nigeria and expect to go to sleep with our two eyes closed.

    “The money Nigeria is sharing from oil earning is finished! We now spend more today to service debts than we earn from oil! Nigeria now spends more to pay for subsidy on imported refined products than she earns from crude sales! Going forward, we must look for ways to move Nigeria beyond oil. We must end the criminality that is called oil subsidy.

    “But we must do the first things first. It is only auspicious that the reset button is urgently applied now, and that is why the OBIdient Movement is an idea whose time has come! We must find ways to change the political trajectory in Nigeria in 2023.

    “There is a common link that will tie or separate Nigerian youths, good governance and a New Nigeria. It is the forthcoming 2023 elections. In essence, democracy has always been about periodic and genuine elections. Besides the periodicity, the pertinent qualifiers include certifiable credibility, transparency, and respect for the choice of the voting populace. In 2023, we must ensure that the choice of Nigerians is respected.

    “After we win the 2023 elections, we intend to use the instruments of job creation and regenerative investments to reduce drastically the high incidence of insecurity and poverty, while moving the economy from the consumptive to the productive mode. We seek to build a new the Nigeria where transparency, due process, rule of law, and prudent management of resources will be the norms.

    “As I have always said, our vision and mission is to give full expression to our democracy by moving our country from consumption to production; we shall achieve by giving primacy to implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “Our national challenges are daunting, but our determination is assuredly unwavering. Sadly, amidst the above overwhelming situations, our current political class keeps punching the air. Indeed, the greatest challenge we face beyond bad leadership, is lack of elite consensus.

    “But let us not forget Dante Alighieri‘s admonition, that “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.”

    “History must serve as a tool in our decision making. The implosion of Nigeria has long been forecasted. Year 2023 could be a tipping point in the annals of our history. But that must not happen, even as the options before the electorate seem stark.

    “I want to assure you that as a people-oriented party and Movement, the people remain the fulcrum of our collective quest to take back Nigeria; the people are our STRUCTURE. I therefore urge you not to yield to the deceptive narrative of lack of Structure in the Movement. You all seated here are the Structures we seek.

    “The current structures of both the PDP and the APC are the stomach infrastructure that has brought us nothing but misery. Their understanding of structure is sharing of Nigeria’s patrimony to vested interests and influence peddlers. That is against what Peter Obi represents; that is against what Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed represents; and it is indeed, against the vision of the Labour Party.

    “On a final note, I urge you to always endeavour to remind the opposition that Nigeria’s democracy must survive because of our structure -that critical mass that has been dehumanized and disenfranchised by the ruling oligarchs; the 100 million poor Nigerians who will come out on election day to fight for their future; the 33% unemployed Nigerians who already know who kept them unemployed; our structure is indeed the parents of 18.5m out-of-school-children in Nigeria, who will strive to ensure that such affliction does not visit them a second time. And finally, our structure is everyone seated in this hall today! Yes, we have Structure. And we are ready to move mountains to save Nigeria.

    See full address below:
    Nigeria’s Democracy Must Survive
    Address by Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party
    At the Labour Party – Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO) Summit
    At the International Conference Centre, Abuja, FCT
    At 9:00 a.m., 11th August, 2022.

    It gives me great joy to attend this family gathering. This is a gathering of Labour Party Leaders, Stakeholders Candidates and a gathering of members of the Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO). More importantly, this is a gathering of the OBIdients.

    This meeting is long overdue. I’m glad that finally we gathered under one roof to discuss our democracy; This Summit is the Mother of all Summits in the struggle to save Nigeria. From where I stand, I dare to proclaim that Nigeria’s Democracy Must Survive! That is our task. That is our Mission.

    Someone wise once said that “Democracy is hard work. We must therefore work hard on it.” We understand that, and that is why the people gathered here, Nigerian Youths and some of us elders, have vowed to take back Nigeria.

    Let me thank all those gathered here for becoming part of the struggle to rescue or country, and make her a Secure, United and Productive Nigeria. Today, our theme and focus is on Youth, Governance and A New Nigeria.

    I thank the Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO) and the entire OBIdient Family who have been toiling ad sacrificing to ensure the success of our collective project. The Nigerian political space has unprecedentedly been lit up by your selfless works and sacrifices. My assurance to you all is that “you shall not labour in vain”.

    Since I entered the presidential race my mantra has been consistent and in tandem with the Labour Party’s vision, which mainly seeks to ensure economic transformation through job-led growth. Therefore, my decision to join the Labour Party was not by coincidence or happenstance; it was indeed a thought-through decision given the ideological convergence.

    Great nations are built through political alliances. Our founding fathers understood and forged alliances in the national interest. But things changed. Our leaders became selfish, myopic ad corrupt. And our people suffered. That narrative and mindset must change.

    Youth, Governance and A New Nigeria
    The new alliance we seek is between Nigerian Youths, the Labour Party, which represent Nigerian workers, and Like Minds. Collectively, it is an alliance of the OBIdients!

    Nigeria is at crossroads and it would be foolhardy for anyone to sugarcoat our current morass. Ravaging insecurity, largely inflicted by non-state actors, is fast threatening the sovereignty of Nigeria.

    Nigeria is today vastly polarized and wracked by deep divisions along religious, ethnic and regional lines. There is a staggering level of corruption. Our universities have remained closed for over five months. While our healthcare system remains comatose, power generation and distribution are also at all-time low.

    I have consistently maintained that while there is a need for the sustenance of the hard approach to fighting insecurity, there is urgent need to tackle poverty and those social and economic malaise that exacerbate the crises. We cannot have 33% unemployment rate, 18.5 million out of school children and 100 million poor people, in Nigeria and expect to go to sleep with our two eyes closed.
    The money Nigeria is sharing from oil earning is finished! We now spend more today to service debts than we earn from oil! Nigeria now spends more to pay for subsidy on imported refined products than she earns from crude sales! Going forward, we must look for ways to move Nigeria beyond oil. We must end the criminality that is called oil subsidy.

    But we must do the first things first. It is only auspicious that the reset button is urgently applied now, and that is why the OBIdient Movement is an idea whose time has come! We must find ways to change the political trajectory in Nigeria in 2023.

    There is a common link that will tie or separate Nigerian youths, good governance and a New Nigeria. It is the forthcoming 2023 elections. In essence, democracy has always been about periodic and genuine elections. Besides the periodicity, the pertinent qualifiers include certifiable credibility, transparency, and respect for the choice of the voting populace. In 2023, we must ensure that the choice of Nigerians is respected.

    After we win the 2023 elections, we intend to use the instruments of job creation and regenerative investments to reduce drastically the high incidence of insecurity and poverty, while moving the economy from the consumptive to the productive mode. We seek to build a new the Nigeria where transparency, due process, rule of law, and prudent management of resources will be the norms.

    As I have always said, our vision and mission is to give full expression to our democracy by moving our country from consumption to production; we shall achieve by giving primacy to implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Our national challenges are daunting, but our determination is assuredly unwavering. Sadly, amidst the above overwhelming situations, our current political class keeps punching the air. Indeed, the greatest challenge we face beyond bad leadership, is lack of elite consensus. But let us not forget Dante Alighieri‘s admonition, that “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.”
    Conclusion:
    History must serve as a tool in our decision making. The implosion of Nigeria has long been forecasted. Year 2023 could be a tipping point in the annals of our history. But that must not happen, even as the options before the electorate seem stark.

    I want to assure you that as a people-oriented party and Movement, the people remain the fulcrum of our collective quest to take back Nigeria; the people are our STRUCTURE. I therefore urge you not to yield to the deceptive narrative of lack of Structure in the Movement. You all seated here are the Structures we seek.

    The current structures of both the PDP and the APC are the stomach infrastructure that has brought us nothing but misery. Their understanding of structure is sharing of Nigeria’s patrimony to vested interests and influence peddlers. That is against what Peter Obi represents; that is against what Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed represents; and it is indeed, against the vision of the Labour Party.

    On a final note, I urge you to always endeavour to remind the opposition that Nigeria’s democracy must survive because of our structure -that critical mass that has been dehumanized and disenfranchised by the ruling oligarchs; the 100 million poor Nigerians who will come out on election day to fight for their future; the 33% unemployed Nigerians who already know who kept them unemployed; our structure is indeed the parents of 18.5m out-of-school-children in Nigeria, who will strive to ensure that such affliction does not visit them a second time. And finally, our structure is everyone seated in this hall today! Yes, we have Structure. And we are ready to move mountains to save Nigeria.

    Thank you and God bless you.

  • Gov Bello approves new appointments in SUBEB, SDGs

    Gov Bello approves new appointments in SUBEB, SDGs

    Gov Abubakar Bello of Niger has approved the appointment of Alhaji Saidu Ibrahim (Mainan Kontagora) as the new Executive Chairman, Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
    Newsmen reports that the governor, on July 30  suspended Dr Idaho Adamu, the SUBEB Chairman over alleged anomalies in the operations of the board and sacked the Director General of SDGs in the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Arab.
    A statement on Monday by Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the Government of Niger State (SSG) disclosed that the appointment of Ibrahim was based on merit, proven credentials, personal integrity and outstanding record of decades of experience.
    The SSG reminded the new SUBEB chairman to align himself with the policy direction of the present administration.
    He urged the new chairman to pursue the reinvigoration of the board within the context of the government’s drive to enhance basic education in the state.
    Matane urged the new SUBEB boss to bring his knowledge, skills, and wealth of experience to bear in the performance of his new assignment by working assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in him.
    The governor congratulated the new SUBEB boss on his appointment and wished him success and God’s guidance in the performance of the duties of his office.
    Similarly, Gov Bello approved the appointment of Mr Mohammed Bashar Harka as the new Director-General, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
    His appointment followed the removal of Abdullahi Baba Arah by the state governor.
    The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Matane in a statement said Harka’s appointment was based on merit.
    The governor has also directed the immediate termination of the appointment of the suspended Chairman of SUBEB, Dr. Isah Adamu.
    Abdullahi Arah of SDGs was removed to facilitate accelerated implementation of the reforms being initiated by the government towards the attainment of the SDGs.
  • JUST IN: Court orders temporary forfeiture of ₦241m ‘diverted from Buhari’s aide’s office’

    JUST IN: Court orders temporary forfeiture of ₦241m ‘diverted from Buhari’s aide’s office’

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture, to the Federal Government, of the sum of ₦241milion allegedly diverted from the office of the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which instigated the forfeiture order told Justice Nicholas Oweibo on Friday that it received a damning intelligence report from some concerned citizens in respect to abuse of office, diversion of funds, and monumental fraud perpetrated by some staff of the accounts department in the office of the SSA to the President.

    The EFCC said its investigation revealed that one Abdusalam Bawa, the key suspect, is a signatory to two corporate accounts which housed monies diverted from the coffers of the agency.

    It also linked Kouchdim Unity Nigeria Ltd and Lankass Global Ventures to the diversion.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo who approached the court via an exparte application told the judge that the sum of ₦241m was warehoused in two banks in the sums of ₦65million, ₦61million, ₦50million and ₦65million.

    Justice Oweibo directed the anti-graft agency to publish the interim forfeiture in any national newspaper for anyone who is interested in the forfeited funds to appear before the court within 14 days to show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.

    He adjourned the final forfeiture proceedings till September 6, 2021.

    Oyedepo’s application was backed by a four-page affidavit of urgency deposed to by an EFCC operative, Ebunoluwa Amusan.

    Amusan averred that he was assigned to investigate the “damning intelligence report received by the EFCC by some concerned citizens in respect of abuse of office, diversion of funds, and monumental fraud perpetrated by some officers of the Sustainable Development Goals, office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President.”

    The intelligence indicated that monies were diverted to some companies owned by some suspects.

    “Our investigation revealed that one Abdulsalam Bawa, the key suspect, is a signatory to two corporate accounts where monies from the agency and those meant for other organisations and for projects were diverted to, and then further diverted to meet the suspects’ selfish needs.

    “Investigation carried out so far revealed that Bawa is not a shareholder nor is he listed as a shareholder in any of these companies; Kouchdim Unity Nigeria Ltd and Lankass Global Ventures, but he is a signatory to the companies’ accounts.

    “Investigation revealed Remita inflows traced from the Central Bank of Nigeria, meant for other organisations and for projects were traced to the suspect’s personal and corporate accounts viz; Lankass Global Ventures and Kouchdim Unity Nigeria Ltd.

    “The above-mentioned companies alongside their alter ego were fraudulently used to divert funds from government coffer and used to purchase the property sought to be attached.”

    The deponent further averred that “the Principal Accountant, in cohort with other staff of the SDG laundered and retained various sums of money through companies and individuals who made payments for the said property sought to be temporarily attached.

    “So far, we have traced and discovered a landed property acquired with proceeds of the alleged diversion of public funds and criminal breach of trust by Mr. Abdulsalam Bawa.

    “We have recovered a total sum of ₦241million from Abdusalam Bawa, Udeme Usoro, Mohammed Auwal and Danyaro Dakan Sarpiya; some of the staff of the accounts department of the SDG office,” he added.

  • The Imperatives Of SDGs: Prognoses And Remedies For Housing Deficit In Nigeria, By Debo Oladimeji

    The Imperatives Of SDGs: Prognoses And Remedies For Housing Deficit In Nigeria, By Debo Oladimeji

    By Debo Oladimeji

    This report aims to look at the problems in the housing sector in Nigeria and the solutions. It is in my opinion that we should take a cue from declarations by the United Nations on Housing and such other development initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals 1,3,6,11, and the rest that set targets for minimum development requirements within a given period to solve the problem of housing deficit in Nigeria.

    Nigeria’s population is currently put at about 194 million people, while the United Nations estimates that the figure will rise to 400 million by 2050. By that estimate, Nigeria will be the most populous country in the world after China and India. However, available data put Nigeria’s housing deficit at 22 million. Aware of the consequences of the fast-growing population in the housing sector, various governments had put measures in place to address the housing challenge. The measures and policies included-enactment of the Land Use Act of 1978, Mortgage Institutions Act, 1989, Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Act, 1990, National Urban Development Policy, 1997, Housing and Urban Development Policy, 2002, among others. In spite of the numerous policies on housing, not much has been achieved.

    One of the problems in the housing sector is that of affordability by Nigerians. Most of the houses for let are beyond the reach of average citizens.

    The high number of unoccupied houses in Abuja and Lagos is gradually becoming a cause for concern, especially as many residents cannot afford the rent.

    Inaccessibility of land has been a major hindrance to Nigerians having their own houses. In some places in Abuja and Lagos, the cost of buying a land is much more than building a house. Many Nigerians cannot afford to build houses due to their meagre earnings.

    The cost of construction in Nigeria is high. A bag of cement was sold for N150.00 in 1987. A bag of cement was sold for N2,300 before the government intervened in 2011 and the price dropped to N1,950.

    Today a bag of cement is sold for N3,600. The prices for other building materials had equally doubled if not tripled making it difficult for many people to build a house of their own.

    Lack of a well define cooperative society is another factor responsible for the housing crisis in Nigeria. Here in Nigeria we are more into agric cooperative. We don’t have a structure for cooperative housing yet.

    We also have the problem of poor infrastructural facilities. In most villages and cities the basic amenities like good roads, potable water, health facilities, etc are either lacking or not functional. It is no longer news that in Nigeria, every home and corporate organisation is like a government, providing all the basic facilities it needs to function optimally.

    Inconsistency in government policy is another concern. The on-going National Housing Programme is a new housing policy conceived by the present administration with the aim of providing affordable houses for Nigerians.

    However, the Federal Government is yet to settle those people who paid for the Federal Government low cost housing schemes since 1994.

    Another area that lacked government’s attention over the years is on adequate data of the housing population. Lack of adequate data for planning was discovered during the covid-19 lockdown. That impeded the government’s effort in distributing economic stimulus, which comes in form of food packs during the pandemic.

    We also have the problem of omoonile (land grabbers). The problem people have with buying land has to do with the nature of Land Use Act in Nigeria. In 1978 when the Land Use Act was promulgated, it was illegal to sell or buy land. So where does omoonile come in? Both the buyers and the sellers are doing illegal thing, because, according to the Land Use Act, selling of land should be the business of the government.

    Many Nigerians are having issues with supply of prepaid meters, which will make the people enjoy right billing of electricity. Another issue is that of transformers. Most communities are now finding it difficult to replace their old transformers with new ones.

    There is also the problem of forced evictions by the government. Recently the civil servants living in 1004 and other Federal Government Estates in Lagos were evicted from their houses. The 1004 Estate was sold to the high and the mighty in the society after the civil servants were evicted from their houses.

    There was also the case of the residents of Maroko that were chased out of their houses by the military government and their land was forcefully taken over. The place that the government claimed that was a slum then is today a cynosure of all eyes. Since the people of Maroko were evicted from their houses most of them have been living in slums.

    They don’t have access to social distancing and potable water to flatten the curve of covid-19 pandemic. This is against the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

    In Nigeria today, there is really not a mortgage finance industry. Where they exist, their effect has been minimally felt with the few mortgage institutions undertaking almost purely commercial banking activities.

    This unfortunate situation has been aggravated by the fact that financial institutions operating in Nigeria do not have access to long-term funds.

    Most estimates suggest that only around 20 per cent participate in informal banking sector, with the remaining 80 per cent dealing almost entirely in cash. With this in mind, much of the population is ineligible for loans of any kind, as it is impossible for financial institutions to confirm creditworthiness due to a lack of history.

    If Nigeria must solve its housing deficit issues, it must look at the issues holistically and develop concrete plans that will address basic needs that will promote equal growth in all its urban locations.

    To start with and most critical of all in remedying the situation is the need for the government to fund a proper census that would address the various types of accommodation currently available nationwide. The results should then be harmonized with the current population census with a proper stratification of the various age groups and their numbers.

    The Land Use Decree should be reviewed to make it in consonance with the times. Land titling should be made affordable like it is the practice in the developed economies. Nigerians paying 15 percent of the cost of land is very disheartening.

    Addressing the housing deficit must go hand-in-hand with the promotion of the use of local building materials and technology. There is need to continually bring to the fore, trends, technologies, systems, and policy issues that impact on the building industry’s intervention and responses to everyday living.

    With Over 3,000 Housing Estates in Abuja, deficit still reaches nearly two million.

    Consequently, many people have to seek more affordable accommodation in the outskirts of the city. The solution to the vacant houses is for the government to provide more affordable houses for the people. Housing being one of the basic needs of man, government should not see investments in this sector from the profit motive only. Governments should view the returns more from the positive social impact of developments.

    There is need for a robust savings schemes through cooperative society to ensure inclusive growth and development in the housing sector. We must save for the raining day and the system in saving and credit is that whatever you have saved would be given to you double the amount.

    Other solutions are: Research and Development in association with local manufacturers. There is also the need for the government to fast-track the development of infrastructure in the satellite towns to check the high cost of accommodation in Nigeria.
    Policy inconsistency is unhealthy for the growth of any country’s housing sector. The Federal Government should adopt strategies that developed nations had used to optimally provide accommodation for their citizens.

    Also crucial is the need for an urgent passage of several bills in the housing sector that have been lying dormant in the National Assembly for years.

    It is also the time the government take to the advice of the United Nations (UN). Due to the housing deficit in Nigeria, a UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Adequate Housing, Leilana Farha advised the Nigerian Government to start taxing vacant houses in the country.

    These monies can be ploughed back into the construction of decent and affordable homes for Nigerians to buy. The government should also tackle the issue of corruption head-on.

    Where evictions become inevitable, it should be carried out in consultation with the affected communities with provision of an alternative relocation.

  • The SDGs And End SARS Protests, By Debo Oladimeji

    The SDGs And End SARS Protests, By Debo Oladimeji

    By Debo Oladimeji

    The End SARS protests had again brought into the fore the urgent need for the government to re-examine how far they have gone in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. The 17 goals and 169 targets of the SDGs represent a global consensus recognizing both the achievements and inadequacies of the Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs) and emerging development challenges and aspirations. The SDGs present a strong commitment by both developed and developing countries to end extreme poverty and hunger, reducing inequalities and promoting inclusive growth.

    Goal 1 of the SDGs was designed to end poverty by the year 2030. Goal 2 of the SDGs was targeted to end hunger by 2030 and ensure access by all people in particular the poor and the people in vulnerable situations including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

    Goal 7, talked about by year 2030 to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. Goal 9 was about developing quality, reliable, sustainable and reliable infrastructure, including regional and trans-border infrastructure, for support economic development and human wellbeing, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

    Goal 11 was meant to ensure for all adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services, and upgrade slums by 2030.

    Goal 16 was meant to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

    These are some of the important issues of development that were targeted in the SDGs agenda for sustainable development.

    From what happened during the End SARS protests in the last two weeks in the country, it is clear that our government is not paying enough attention to SDGs the way other countries are addressing it with passion.

    Many of the youths are still left out in the poverty alleviation programmes of the government. The government could still do more to end poverty in Nigeria.

    Why did the protest against police brutality AKA “EndSARS Protests” turned bloody in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria? Why did hoodlums hijack the protest to begin attacking innocent citizens? What led to the burning of BRT buses in Lagos and looting of banks, court, shopping malls etc?

    “It became very clear very quickly that the protest cannot just be about an end to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), because the kind of abuses that are documented with SARS squad are also something that has become part of everyday life of Nigerians in their contact with figures of authority across the board,” Annie Olaloku-Teriba, Nigerian affairs analyst, told Al Jazeera.

    “The gross inequality, which we’ve seen, has meant that the young people going out on streets feel like it is a fight for survival.”

    Olaloku-Teriba said “the government’s response has just been to use water cannon and open fire on protesters and they [demonstrators] are experiencing that brutality which is only making the demands of the protests broaden.”

    Despite massive oil wealth and one of Africa’s largest economies, Nigeria’s people have high levels of poverty and lack of basic services, as a result of rampant corruption, charge rights groups.

    On Tuesday, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on President Buhari and the Nigerian army “to stop killing” protesters.

    Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka told Sky News the atmosphere in the city was “very, very dark, very ominous”.

    He said he had seen lots of evidence and testimony from witnesses who said the government was responsible for the shootings.

    Demonstrations and gunfire were also reported in several other Nigerian cities, including Abuja.

    One man told Sky News: “The army killed people, they have killed innocent protestors and it’s unacceptable.”

    Before the shootings in Lekki, a Nigerian police statement warned that security forces would now “exercise the full powers of the law to prevent any further attempt on lives and property of citizens”.

    Speaking in a televised address, Lagos State governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu said he has ordered an investigation into the actions of the military.

    Nigeria is said to be the poverty capital of the world. That is why many young Nigerians had been protesting for over two weeks across the country.

    Over 70% of the population is under 30 years of age. Unemployment stood at 21.7 million in the second quarter of 2020. The youth account for 13.9 million of this.

    Young Nigerians are, therefore, most affected by government policies that have led to a lack of jobs and meaningful sources for livelihood. Other triggers include the lavish lifestyle of political leaders. The government budgets more money for the members of the National Assembly than for health and education. This is against the tenets of SDGs.

    One takeaway is that a new social contract is being written. Nigerians are creating a new understanding of how leaders and public servants should relate to citizens.

    Secondly, the youth are reinventing governance in Nigeria and bringing about a new culture of asserting rights among the citizenry.

    The 30% of Nigerian who are adults and have experienced military rule seem to have that etched deep into their psyche. They are afraid of a man in uniform. This has become a part of Nigerians’ conditioning.

    However, the youth believe that the men in uniform are meant to serve the citizens and to protect them. It is a different relationship entirely. Young people are more exposed to the fact that things could be better and are ready to take their destiny into their own hands. They want to reinvent the country and to be a better place to live.

    Their access to the internet also informs their action. They are able to reach the world from their bedroom.

    For many years, Nigeria has been ruled by leaders who are quite elderly. These have not succeeded in finding solutions to the nation’s challenges. Corruption and hunger are rife. It is obvious that young Nigerians feel alienated and are now ready to take the bull by the horns and ensure good governance.

    Politicians and leaders are waking up to a new politically conscious society. According to the Chairman Nigeria’s Governors, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State:

    “There is nothing wrong in what the young people are doing. I think we should encourage them to ask more questions.”

    Various state governments are beginning to see how important it is to have a good relationship with young people. Given the awakening of this new political consciousness, it will not be business as usual for the country’s political leaders.

    SARS was a special police unit set up decades ago as Nigeria battled rising levels of crime and kidnappings.

    Initially, it was successful in reducing cases of violent crime but more recently the unit had been “turned into banditry”.

    In June 2020, Amnesty International released a report that documented at least 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extrajudicial execution by SARS between January 2017 and May 2020.

    The protests were sparked by a viral video allegedly showing SARS officers killing a young man in the southern Delta state. Authorities denied the video was real.

    The man who filmed the video was arrested, provoking even more anger.

    With the demonstrations against SARS growing in size, the government on October 11 was forced to dissolve the controversial unit on October 11.

    “The disbanding of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to extensive police reform in order to ensure that the primary duty of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the protection of lives and livelihood of our people,” President Muhammadu Buhari said.

    Authorities later ordered all personnel to report to the police headquarters in the capital, Abuja, for debriefing and psychological and medical examination. Meanwhile, the forming of a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was announced to replace SARS.

    However, the announcements did not satisfy protesters, who viewed them as just another renaming exercise and pledged to stay on the streets until their demands are met.

    These include the immediate release of all arrested protesters; justice for all deceased victims of brutality; and appropriate compensation for their families.

    Protesters also call for an independent body to oversee the investigation and persecution of all reports of police misconduct; psychological evaluation and retraining of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed,; and an increase in police salary so they are adequately compensated for protecting the lives and property of the citizens.

    Many are also calling for more wide-sweeping change in Nigeria, which has the largest number of people living in extreme poverty in the world and a massive youth unemployment rate.

    The government should use the occasion to examine the SDGs and see what more can be done to end poverty in Nigeria. We should take a cue from how hoodlums hijacked what ought to be a peaceful protest to a bloody one to end hunger and poverty in Nigeria. We are still far behind the journey to end poverty by 2030.

  • COVID-19 threatening attainment of SDGs – Buhari

    COVID-19 threatening attainment of SDGs – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has noted that the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic had threatened to derail the progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

    The president disclosed this on Friday at the virtual inaugural SDGs Moment, convened by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, during the high-level week of the 75th UN General Assembly.

    He, however, noted that Nigeria is already addressing the threat by re-dedicating efforts towards economic diversification, focusing on agriculture and the mining sectors.

    The president, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said ”Nigeria has made good strides in SDGs domestication processes, as we have commenced the re-alignment of the National Statistical System with the requirements and indicators of the SDGs.

    ”We have developed a novel home-grown ‘Integrated Sustainable Development Goals Model, as an analytical framework for assessing how policy making can better address the indivisible nature of the Sustainable Development Goals.

    ”Nigeria has also set up a Model Private Sector Advisory Group and an SDGs Donors’ Forum with a view to engaging critical stakeholders towards the attainment of the SDGs”, he said.

    He also informed that Nigeria will engage the services of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members across the country and 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ambassadors to champion the implementation of SDGs 2030 at the grassroots.

    The President spoke Friday at the virtual inaugural SDGs Moment, convened by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, during the high-level week of the 75th UN General Assembly.

    Re-affirming Nigeria’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other Internationally Agreed Development Goals, Buhari told the meeting that anti-corruption institutions have been strengthened to enable the administration effectively combat illicit financial flows and recover proceeds.

    The president recalled that Nigeria presented its second Voluntary National Review on SDGs to the UN High-Level Political Forum in July 2020.

    President Buahri also used the occasion of his address to pledge Nigeria’s commitment to mainstreaming the SDGs into subsequent development plans.