The Challenges of Sustainable Development in Nigeria Amidst the Global Pandemic (COVID-19)

Abstract

Background: Sustainable Development is that which meets the needs of the present without undermining the ability of future generations to fulfill their own needs. Unfortunately, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets set by the United Nations to be achieved by 2030 have been affected to a large extent by the current COVID-19 Pandemic. The Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has so far infected more than 270 million people and killed over 5.3 million. Aside from the direct impact on people's lives and health, the Pandemic's most considerable impact has been by far on Education, the Economy, and Social infrastructures, especially in developing countries. Objective: The work reviews of literature and SDG Reports on the impact of the Pandemics on the Goals relating to the Economy (SDG 1, 2, and 8), Education (SDG 4), and health (SDG 3) in the Nigerian context, using some of the critical indicators of these Goals. Methods: We explore data from the SDG interactive platform to compare the trend and changes in these indicators before and after the Pandemic's start to determine the pandemics' effect on these Goals. In addition, we discussed the global efforts toward vaccine access to bring an end to the current Pandemic. Conclusions: The review suggested that the Pandemic has significantly impacted all indicators targeted in this work. It also suggests some possible solutions, using exemplary sustainable developments that still impact ordinary citizens' economies and livelihoods. Further recommends deploying online teaching-learning methods and other stakeholders' investments in the health and education sectors.