Policy-Implementation Nexus in Nigeria's Sustainable Development Trajectory: Bridging Rhetoric and Reality

This article addresses the significant disconnect between policy formulation and implementation that has defined Nigeria's efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since their adoption in 2015. Through a detailed analysis of Nigeria's three Voluntary National Reviews (2017, 2020, and 2025) and sectoral policy evaluations, the study identifies ongoing implementation gaps in areas such as environmental sustainability, climate governance, and agricultural development. Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF), and creating successive national development plans based on the 2030 Agenda—progress remains inconsistent. An analysis of 52 key performance indicators indicates that only 34.6% show improvement, while 30.8% have stagnated, and another 34.6% have regressed (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2025).This article argues that Nigeria's challenge in sustainable development stems not from a lack of policy ambition, but from a crisis of implementation coherence. This issue is further complicated by structural fiscal constraints (government revenue at only 9.6% of GDP), limitations in institutional capacity, and the complex relationship between climate commitments and dependence on hydrocarbon resources (Yamoah, 2025). To address these challenges, the study proposes a framework for strengthening the links between policy and implementation through improved inter-agency coordination, data-driven governance, and inclusive stakeholder engagement as Nigeria approaches the 2030 deadline.