CISLAC unveils SDG 16 shadow report

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has launched its seventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 Shadow Report, shedding light on Nigeria’s ongoing social, economic, and governance challenges.

The report, unveiled on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, emphasised the need for bold reforms to overcome the obstacles.

The 2024 SDG 16 Shadow Report critically assesses Nigeria’s progress towards promoting peace, justice and strong institutions, focusing on key targets, including organised crime, corruption, and public access to information (Targets 16.4, 16.5, and 16.10).

The Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, who presented the report, acknowledged that while the country faced significant difficulties, the path to achieving the SDGs by 2030 remained possible with the right interventions.

“The challenges confronting our nation are immense but not insurmountable.”

With bold reforms, increased transparency, and a renewed commitment to building strong, accountable institutions, Nigeria can still achieve the SDGs,” Rafsanjani stated during the launch.

The report draws attention to the growing threat of insecurity, noting that in 2023 alone, 4,437 people were kidnapped in 227 mass abductions, reflecting a disturbing rise in organised crime, despite an expanded defence and security budget.

Addressing human rights violations, the report highlighted the suppression of free speech during the #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024. According to the report, 21 protesters were killed, over 1,000 were arrested, and journalists faced harassment or detention.

Rafsanjani described Nigeria’s current economic situation as unprecedented, noting that inflation reached a 28-year high in June 2024, exacerbating hardships across the country.