Nigeria’s 36 States Receive N39.6bn in Ecological Funds, Federal Government Reports
Written by Jerry Alomatu on August 12, 2024
Nigeria’s 36 states have collectively received N39.62 billion in ecological fund allocations from June 2023 to June 2024, according to data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The ecological fund, a vital component of Nigeria’s federal revenue allocation, addresses environmental issues such as 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 disbursements managed by the Ecological Fund Office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Over the past year, the Federal Government allocated N39.62 billion among the states, reflecting the diverse environmental challenges faced across Nigeria.
Top Allocations:
Kano State received the highest allocation of N2.1 billion, averaging N175 million per month. Recent heavy rainfall has disrupted the Kano-Maiduguri highway, prompting the Federal Government to terminate the contract for Section 1 of the road project due to delays.
Borno State, grappling with environmental damage from ongoing insurgency, received N1.68 billion, averaging N140 million per month.
Other Significant Recipients:
Lagos: N1.81 billion (N150.83 million per month)
Kaduna: N1.4 billion (N124.17 million per month)
Sokoto: N1.49 billion (N124.17 million per month)
States with Lowest Allocations:
Kwara: N602.3 million (N50.20 million per month)
Bayelsa: N598.79 million (N49.90 million per month)
Ondo: N629.42 million (N52.45 million per month)
Additional Notable Allocations:
Adamawa: N1.24 billion (N103.33 million per month)
Anambra: N1.35 billion (N112.50 million per month)
Benue: N758.97 million (N63.25 million per month)
Cross River: N680 million (N56.67 million per month)
Enugu: N1.36 billion (N113.33 million per month)
Recent reports highlight the severe impact of environmental challenges, particularly in the BAY States (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe). According to a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report, severe weather incidents between April and July 2024 affected 124,275 individuals across 56 internally displaced persons (IDP) sites. The report documented 46 heavy windstorms, 66 flooding events, and 115 incidents combining both conditions, damaging infrastructure and leaving 24,463 households in urgent need of shelter.
Expert Opinions:
Victor Agi from the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Accountability raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the management of the ecological fund, questioning its effectiveness in preventing recurring flooding.
Environmental economist Tobi Awolope from the Centre for Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment criticized the misdirection of resources and called for better impact assessments and clearer objectives to ensure the funds effectively address ecological issues.
Both experts emphasized the need for improved monitoring and accountability to maximize the ecological fund’s impact on environmental protection and disaster prevention.
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Author: Jerry Alomatu
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