By Asma’u Ahmad
The Afrihealth Optnet Association (AOA) has urged the Federal Government to fund and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
National Coordinator of AOA, Dr Uzodinma Adirieje, made the call in an interview with the newsmen in Abuja.
He said that although Nigeria keyed into the agenda early enough, the government was not giving the programme much priority as it ought to get.
Dr Uzodinma Adirieje
Dr Adirieje said that the Nigerian government should identify social and economic problems that had affected the realisation of the goals in Nigeria and ensure its proper funding.
”Government should budget specifically in the local, state and federal levels to achieve the SDGs. It is noted that the SDGs cannot be successfully achieved without the total cooperation of the communities as expert highlights its role in bringing the SDGs to success.
“There should be a budget to educate the citizens and empower them to be par takers to the achievement of the SDGs,” he said.
Adirieje said that the SDGs focused on three major aspects: The Planet, Its natural habitats (man and animals) and Preservation with each goal relating to these three aspects directly.
He said: “The SDGs is a programme introduced to build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which the agenda carries 17 global goals and 169 targets.
“Although other analysts have admitted that it was still early to judge the performance of Nigeria in achieving the 17 SDGs and the 169 targets of which the deadline is in 2030. Every country of the world has the obligation in ensuring that the SDGs are achieved, Nigeria is not an exception of the obligation.”
