‘How Nigeria can fund newly adopted development goals’

Nigeria may need to find innovative ways of funding the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Unlike time past when the country received international aid to implement the Millennium Development Goals, there are indications that the Nigeria and other developing nations may have to look inwards to fund the global goals adopted by world leaders on Friday 25th at the United Nations headquarters.

Thomas Gass, an Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations who spoke with The Nation at the United Nations Headquarter in New York said it is important for government of developing countries like Nigeria to ensure the flow of funding within the country to support the goals.

“It is very clear that this new agenda cannot be paid for only by Development Corporations. It would be important that the developed countries raise their Official Development Assistance (ODA ) to 0.7 of Gross National Income (GNI) and many countries are still far from that. Government needs to ensure that all the flows of funding within the country actually support sustainable development.
” They need to ensure that all the companies operating are paying their taxes properly and see to it that international companies do not shift their profits to other countries where they don’t have to pay for taxes,” said Gass.

Asked if the United Nations will compel developed countries to pay compensation to African countries hit by the effects of climate change, he affirmed that the organization is working towards a green climate fund through which countries can be supported in adapting and mitigating the effect of climate change.

“There is work on a green climate fund through which countries can be supported in adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change but compelling countries to do something never works very well. We have lots of experience of that in the United Nations.
” It needs to be about convincing them that is in the best interest of the whole community for everyone to be able to shoulder the weight that they can carry, and that weight is heavier for some countries that it is for others. The importance of climate change is that every country participates in a way that is based on the solidarity between people and between nations.”

The UN chief also reacted to concerns that 17 goals may be a long list for developing countries that are faced with other constraints stating that although countries may set priorities where they will start, it is important they have a commitment to achieve all the goals as the 169 targets are closely linked and indivisible.
“It is a long list because the needs and aspirations of the people are very complex and diverse. The global goals are a new contract between government and their people and therefore must include all the issues that people need. Of course countries will set priorities where they will start but it is very important that they have the commitment to achieve all the goals at all the time”.

Acknowledging the fact that countries in the Lake Chad basin facing the Boko Haram menace may have more difficulties in achieving the SDGs, he expressed optimism that the conflicts in the region can be resolved using the right approach and strategies especially as the new goals points to some of the root cause of the crisis such as poverty and inequality.

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