1.5 National development planning

Though Nigeria is endowed with oil, gas, hydro and solar resources, it faces significant challenges in the energy sector. The installed generation capacity is underexploited, leading to low energy supply.44 Nigeria has the largest absolute access deficit in sub‑Saharan Africa and the second largest in the world.45 Limited access to energy has a critical impact on communities, affecting access to decent health care water supply, and damaging the environment due to unsustainable energy practices (use of fuelwood).46 In its 2016 Rural Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan, the Federal Government sought to increase access to electricity to 75 percent and 90 percent of the population by 2020 and 2030 respectively, with at least 10 percent renewable energy by 2025. In 2019, 55 percent of the population had access to electricity, substantially lower than the 2020 target.47

Since independence, the Government of Nigeria has implemented a series of development planning frameworks to respond to national development challenges.48 In 2021, the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) 2021‑2031 was approved. NPRGS aims to accelerate poverty reduction through economic growth, redistributive (social protection) programmes, industrialization and structural and institutional reforms. This NPRGS was preceded by Vision 20:2020 which sought to position Nigeria among the leading 20 economies in the world by 2020. Nigeria also implements medium‑term development plans lasting four to five years, and the current Plan (2021‑2025) is anchored in four strategic objectives: (a) establishing a diversified economy; (b) investing in critical infrastructure; (c) building a framework for strengthened security and good governance; and (d) health and education of the population. This was preceded by the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017‑2020, which aimed to promote macroeconomic stability and diversify the economy with a particular focus on industry, manufacturing and key services, social inclusion and infrastructure development.

In 2020, Nigeria launched the Economic Sustainability Plan 2020‑2021 to address the economic impacts of COVID‑19, aiming to stimulate and diversify the economy, retain and create jobs and extend more protections to the poor.

Nigeria is signatory to the African Union Agenda 2063, the long‑term strategic framework (2013‑2063) for achieving the continent’s inclusive and sustainable development goals. It is an active member of the United Nations, particularly in peacekeeping operations, and contributes to bolstering and strengthening the United Nations capacity for preventive diplomacy and post‑conflict peacebuilding. Nigeria also plays a major role in conflict resolution and crisis‑mediation in Africa under the framework of ECOwAS.

Key bilateral partners of the Government of Nigeria for its SDGs include the world Bank, European Union, United Kingdom, USAID, Germany, Japan and the Islamic Development Bank.

44 See https://www.get‑invest.eu/market‑information/nigeria/energy‑sector. 45 NBS (2020) https://nigerianstat.gov.ng. 46 UNDP Nigeria. Sustainable energy sources enhance health in rural Nigeria. https://www.ng.undp.org/content/nigeria/en/ home/ourwork/environmentandenergy/successstories/sustainable‑energy‑sources‑enhances‑health‑in‑rural‑nigeria‑. html?utm_source=EN&utm_medium=GSR&utm_content=US_UNDP_PaidSearch_Brand_English&utm_campaign=CENTRAL&c_ src=CENTRAL&c_src2=GSR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIos7H2_H‑8wIVym1vBB0LcQUmEAMYASAAEgKOG_D_BwE. 47 world Bank. Access to electricity (% of population) – Nigeria. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS?locations=NG. 48 Ibietan, J and Ikhosuehi, O. (2013) Trends in Development Planning in Nigeria: 1962 to 2012. Journal of Sustainable Development in

Africa (Volume 15, No.4).