Nigeria’s 36 states received a total of ₦39.62 billion in ecological fund allocations between June 2023 and June 2024, according to data released by the Federation Account Allocation Committee and published by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The ecological fund, an essential component of Nigeria’s federal revenue allocation, is designed to address a range of environmental challenges across the nation, including erosion, desertification, flooding, oil spills, and drought.
Established in 1981, the fund is sourced from the Federation Account at a rate of two percent, with the goal of supporting all levels of government in managing ecological issues. The disbursement of the fund is overseen by the Ecological Fund Office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Over the past year, the Federal Government distributed ₦39.62 billion among the 36 states, with allocations reflecting the severity of environmental challenges faced in different regions.
Kano State received the highest allocation of ₦2.1 billion, averaging ₦175 million per month. Borno State, grappling with environmental damage from insurgency, received ₦1.68 billion, averaging ₦140 million per month, making it the second-highest recipient.
Recent reports indicated that heavy rainfall has rendered parts of the Kano-Maiduguri highway impassable, significantly disrupting traffic. Many states have been affected by the rains.
The Federal Government recently terminated the contract for Section 1 of the Kano-Maiduguri road project due to prolonged delays. This decision was announced by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, through his Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji. The minister also ordered an immediate assessment of the road project.
A report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, titled *‘Nigeria BAY States, Shelter/NFI Sector Flood Situation Update, April – July 2024 (Issue 1.0)’*, highlighted the severe weather incidents that directly affected 124,275 individuals across 56 internally displaced persons (IDP) sites in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states between April and July 2024. The region experienced 46 heavy windstorms, 66 flooding events, and 115 instances of simultaneous windstorms and flooding, impacting 26,493 households.
“These incidents have caused significant damage to camp infrastructure, including shelters, safe spaces, and essential WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities such as latrines and showers,” the report stated.
The report also noted a seven percent increase in weather-related incidents compared to the same period last year, further worsening the situation in these areas.
As of July, only five percent of the affected population had received any form of shelter or non-food items assistance. The ongoing rainy season has placed immense pressure on humanitarian efforts, which are already struggling to meet the needs of over a million IDPs across the three states.
Borno State has been the hardest hit, with 114,747 IDPs affected, followed by Yobe with 9,419 and Adamawa with 309.
OCHA reported that 51 IDP sites and 134 host communities have been flooded, resulting in the damage of 26,779 shelters, leaving 24,463 households in desperate need of shelter.
Among other top recipients of the ecological fund are Lagos, which received ₦1.81 billion, averaging ₦150.83 million per month; Kaduna with ₦1.49 billion, averaging ₦124.17 million per month; and Sokoto with ₦1.4 billion, also averaging ₦124.17 million per month.
Conversely, the states with the lowest allocations include Kwara, receiving ₦602.3 million (₦50.20 million per month); Bayelsa with ₦598.79 million (₦49.90 million per month); and Ondo with ₦629.42 million (₦52.45 million per month).
Edo received ₦632.8 million (₦52.73 million per month), while Abia received ₦633.68 million (₦52.81 million per month).
Adamawa received ₦1.24 billion (₦103.33 million per month) to address issues such as erosion and flooding. Anambra was allocated ₦1.35 billion (₦112.50 million per month).
Benue, affected by desertification and flooding, received ₦758.97 million (₦63.25 million per month), while Cross River received ₦680 million (₦56.67 million per month) to manage deforestation and erosion. Enugu received ₦1.36 billion (₦113.33 million per month) for its ecological interventions.
Experts have emphasized the vital role of the ecological fund in financing environmental protection projects across the country. The fund aims to ensure sustainable development and safeguard lives and property from ecological disasters.
However, there are concerns about the transparency and effectiveness of the fund’s management. Victor Agi, an accountability advocate at the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Accountability, expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in the utilization of the ecological fund.
“We don’t even get to know how the funds are used,” Agi said, questioning the fund’s effectiveness in mitigating annual environmental disasters like flooding.
Agi suggested that the Federal Government should consider taking direct control of the ecological fund, which is currently managed by state governors, to ensure accountability and effective utilization.
Environmental economist Tobi Awolope, from the Centre for Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment at the Federal University of Agriculture, Ogun State, echoed these concerns, citing ineffective interventions and misdirection of resources as significant issues.
“The government has been intervening, but the right people and target population are not being adequately reached,” Awolope said, emphasizing the importance of impact assessments in evaluating the effectiveness of ecological fund utilization.
For better management of the ecological funds, Awolope recommended setting up clear objectives and closely monitoring the allocation and utilization of the funds to ensure they achieve their intended purposes of ecological restoration and disaster prevention.
