A recent investigation has found that several Nigerian states have failed to record spending on flood control despite receiving billions of naira in ecological fund allocations. The review of Federation Account Allocation Committee data and state budget performance reports showed that Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, and Benue states recorded no expenditure on erosion and flood control between January and June 2026.
The four states collectively received approximately N5.52bn in ecological funds. Ekiti State received approximately ₦1.234bn, Kwara State received approximately ₦1.23bn, Kogi State received approximately ₦1.505bn, and Benue State received approximately ₦1.551bn. However, the relevant expenditure records showed no spending on flood control.
Other states also recorded limited expenditure relative to their allocations or budgetary provisions. Enugu State received approximately ₦1.39bn in ecological funds during the six-month period and spent ₦295.17m on erosion and flood control, representing about 21 per cent of its ecological fund receipts. Kaduna State received approximately ₦1.8bn but spent only ₦55m on flood control.
The findings come as flooding continues to devastate communities across the country. According to the National Emergency Management Agency’s flood dashboard, 272,890 people were affected by flooding incidents in 2025, with 280 deaths, 108,117 displaced persons, 37,958 homes, and 45,562 farmlands affected. In 2026, flooding has continued to cause casualties and property losses.
In Anambra State, a pupil was swept away by a flash flood along the Isiagu axis of Awka-Nibo Road on September 22. The incident prompted the state police command to warn parents and guardians against allowing children to cross flooded roads, bridges, drainage channels, and waterways.
Experts have called on state governments to prioritise ecological fund spending and ensure that budgetary provisions are released and utilised. A former acting Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Air Vice Marshal Akugbe Iyamu, questioned how the Ecological Fund and other resources released for disaster preparedness had been utilised.
President Bola Tinubu has also called on state governments to deploy their increased earnings prudently and focus on interventions that directly enhance the welfare of citizens. The President stressed the need for more deliberate investments in health and education, following the release of the World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update for October 2026.
Key points
- Many Nigerian states have not spent ecological funds on flood control measures.
- The states received billions of naira in ecological funds but recorded little or no expenditure on erosion and flood control.
- Experts are calling for better utilisation of ecological funds to address environmental risks.
