. As FG presents economic sustainability plan
Clara Nwachukwu
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that achieving targeted sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Nigeria will be delayed further by about six years due to the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In its assessment of the financing gaps to achieving the SDGs in the areas of education, health, roads, electricity, and water & sanitation, the IMF said Nigeria among three other countries, including Rwanda, Pakistan and Cambodia will find it even more challenging after the pandemic.
IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, raised the alarm yesterday, in her remarks at a UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable-Development.
Her disclosure comes even as the Nigerian Government on Monday presented a report on the monitoring and tracking of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) funds and result delivery at the Economic Sustainability Committee meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, who made the presentation, claimed that over two million jobs had been retained and created through the implementation of the ESP programmes and projects without giving further detail.
However, the IMF boss warned that the world is losing the battle against poverty, as global poverty is significantly increasing, which she described as “an economic calamity—and a human tragedy,” and called on countries to focus more on pro-growth structural reforms, supported by more fiscal capacity through domestic resource mobilization.
She added that “The road to travel has become tougher. Enormous challenges are faced by all countries with high vulnerabilities.”
Notwithstanding that the global economy is on the path of recovery, Georgieva argued that “the overall positive growth picture masks dangerously uneven developments. After a crisis like no other comes a recovery like no other. Countries with strong capacity to support their economies and high rates of vaccinations are seeing bright prospects and are powering ahead. Those with limited policy space and delayed vaccinations are still in the ‘shade.’ They are falling behind.”
To check the trend, she charged policymakers to urgently take the necessary actions to vaccinate at least 60 percent in all countries by mid-2022.
Countries with strong capacity to support their economies and high rates of vaccinations are seeing bright prospects and are powering ahead. Those with limited policy space and delayed vaccinations are still in the ‘shade.’ They are falling behind.
Meanwhile, Agba had said that the establishment of 520 Intensive Care Units (ICU) beds, 52 Molecular Laboratories and Isolation Centres at Federal Tertiary Hospitals were at 67% completion.
This is in addition to the construction and rehabilitation of a number of federal roads across the federation under FERMA.
He disclosed that to promote citizen participation, ownership and transparency in the delivery of the ESP projects, the ministry had commenced the development of a web application called the “EYEMARK”, which would allow citizens and beneficiaries to report on the quality and functionality of these projects.
