The Co-ordinator of the Project Support Unit (PSU) of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Plateau State, Mr Peter Gai has suggested that there should be an extension of the 2015 deadline for meeting the MDGs targets.

The United Nations MDGs goals was set out with aims to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equity and empower women as well as reduce child mortality rate. It also seek to improve maternal health, combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop global partnership for development.

The Co-ordinator of the Project Support Unit (PSU) of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Plateau State, Mr Peter Gai has suggested that there should be an extension of the 2015 deadline for meeting the MDGs targets.

The United Nations MDGs goals was set out with aims to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equity and empower women as well as reduce child mortality rate. It also seek to improve maternal health, combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop global partnership for development.

Gai who was speaking with journalists in Jos the Plateau state capital stated that as 2015 was fast approaching, there was still much to be achieved in order to meet the deadline. The co-ordinator said: “There are a lot of communities that are still untouched in terms of water supply, basic or primary healthcare and basic education. And for this reasons, some of us are proposing that MDGs should be extended beyond 2015 in order to reach more communities.”

“There is also the thinking of some post MDGs proponents that if possible, the MDGs should be institutionalised by passing the necessary laws to support it, so that it can be an office of its own for the reason of continuity. We have discovered that the projects are working. The processes are so fool proof that you hardly find failed contracts in MDGs.”

He added that the MDGs have reached an advanced stage “it is not there yet because as communities are still springing up on daily basis and they deserve amenities and empowerment. For instance, if you go by international standards, there are specific kilometres you have to go and get a hospital, but is yet to be achieved. I advocate that we should look at what happens to MDGs beyond 2015 and how we can sustain it to cater for new areas and maintain the projects executed.”

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2015 deadline of MDGs should be extended – Plateau MDGs boss