With less than five years to the 2030 deadline, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has warned that Nigeria risks falling short unless states turn pledges into measurable action.

Speaking at a Roundtable Dialogue with State SDGs Focal Persons in Abuja, Orelope-Adefulire said meeting global targets will require “greater coordination, innovation, and subnational ownership,” stressing that state focal persons are key to bridging national policy with grassroots realities.

“As the 2030 clock ticks, Nigeria’s sustainable development will be determined not only in Abuja but in state capitals, local councils, and communities nationwide,” she said, urging states yet to act to make this “the turning point” in Nigeria’s SDG journey. “The time to act is now,” she declared.

“Our discussions must be honest, bold, and action-oriented. The SDGs are about real people, real communities, and real change,” she said.

She disclosed that 17 states have yet to domesticate and integrate the SDGs into governance, a shortfall she called a “major obstacle” to national progress, and urged states to cut reliance on donor funding by mainstreaming the Goals into their budgets.

“This is a national agenda, not just a state or federal one. All tiers of government must work in unison,” she said, adding: “When you spend 10 Naira, we want to know what portion goes to No Poverty, Zero Hunger, education, healthcare, or jobs.”

She urged states and local governments to ensure increased federal allocations translate into tangible community benefits, saying: “It is no longer enough to wait on external support. We must look inward, identify what we have, and leverage it efficiently.”

Edo State’s SDG Director-General, Julius Okunbor, described the meeting as “an eye-opener,” saying the agenda in his state had been revived and was delivering results.

“We must work with what we have, minimise leakages, and manage budgets prudently,” he noted.

Abia State’s SDG adviser, Kenechukwu Nwosu, said grassroots partnerships were driving progress in health, agriculture, and sanitation, adding that fiscal discipline had helped the state meet counterpart funding obligations without loans.