COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A CHALLENGE TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper looked at COVID-19 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria. Specifically, this paper aimed to show how COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge to sustainable development goals in Nigeria and suggest possible means to solve theconsequences of COVID-19 for achievement of sustainable development goals in Nigeria. The system theory of David Easton was adopted as a framework for analysis. Data were collected from secondary sources using documentary method and the qualitative method was employed to analyze the study. This paper shows that the issue of COVID-19 pandemic is a strong challenge to the achievement of the first phase of SDGs in Nigeria because the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increase in rate of poverty, unemployment and food insecurity, increase in cost of living, closure of business activities, reduction of access to income, fall in oil prices and GDP etc, which are the some of the indices needed for successful implementation of SDGs in the country. Therefore, this study recommended for among others, the encouragement of low interest loan to SMEs, adequate measures for reduction of inflation rate, adequate investment in education, promotion of agriculture and economic diversification and increase in government spending (mainly on infrastructure).