morganable politics/Governance
An analysis of the allocations showed that Kano State received the highest share, about N1.91bn, followed by Kaduna with N1.58bn, Jigawa N1.55bn, Borno N1.50bn and Katsina N1.48bn. Bauchi received N1.44bn, Niger N1.43bn, Benue N1.35bn and Kogi N1.33bn, while Lagos got about N1.25bn between January and May.
KaNo—
The Federal Government disbursed about N32bn to the 36 states of the federation from the Ecological Fund in the first six months of 2026, even as recurring floods continue to wreak havoc across parts of the country, claiming lives and destroying property worth millions of naira.
Findings showed that the funds, released through the Federation Account Allocation Committee, were intended to support states in tackling pressing environmental challenges such as flooding, erosion, desertification and pollution.
However, budget performance documents and official records indicate that several states either spent little on flood control or have yet to provide clear accounts of how the funds were utilised.
Data obtained from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation revealed that between January and June 2026, states collectively received about N32bn from the fund.
The disbursements included N4.69bn in February, N5.01bn in March, N5.77bn in April and N5.38bn in June, while allocations for January and May amounted to over N11bn combined.
Local government councils also benefited from the ecological allocations during the period, pushing total disbursements to sub-national governments to several billions of naira.
The Ecological Fund, established in 1981 following the recommendation of the Okigbo Commission, serves as an intervention pool to address environmental problems nationwide.
Initially set at one per cent of the Federation Account, its allocation was increased to two per cent in 1992, with an additional one per cent derivation component later introduced, bringing the total to three per cent.
Under the sharing formula, the Federal Government receives 48.5 per cent, states 24 per cent and local governments 20 per cent, making it one of the country’s most significant intervention funding mechanisms for environmental emergencies.
An analysis of the allocations showed that Kano State received the highest share, about N1.91bn, followed by Kaduna with N1.58bn, Jigawa N1.55bn, Borno N1.50bn and Katsina N1.48bn. Bauchi received N1.44bn, Niger N1.43bn, Benue N1.35bn and Kogi N1.33bn, while Lagos got about N1.25bn between January and May.
Collectively, the top 10 beneficiary states received more than N15.5bn during the six-month period. The distribution reflects factors such as population, landmass and derivation, as well as the extent of ecological challenges faced by each state.
Many of the top recipients, particularly in the northern region, grapple with desertification, drought and seasonal flooding, while coastal and urban states like Lagos contend with rising sea levels, heavy rainfall and poor drainage infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, findings revealed a mismatch between the funds received and actual expenditure on flood prevention and control in some states.
In Jigawa State, which received about N1.55bn within the period, the government reportedly spent nothing on erosion and flood control in the first half of 2026, according to its second-quarter budget performance report. The state had allocated N100m for the purpose in its budget.
Monthly records showed that Jigawa received N209.92m in January, N192.50m in February, N247.15m in March, N309.89m in April, N287.24m in May and N302.22m in June.
Similarly, Kaduna State, which received more than N3bn from the Ecological Fund in 2025, spent only N178m on flood and erosion control, representing about 5.9 per cent of its ecological receipts.
In Bauchi, Niger and Benue states, detailed budget performance reports for 2026 were not available as of the time of filing this report, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the use of ecological funds.
In Lagos, several major drainage and flood-control projects recorded zero expenditure in the first quarter of 2026, despite the state receiving about N1.25bn from the fund between January and May.
The gap between allocations and implementation comes against the backdrop of widespread flooding incidents recorded during the period. In Lagos, heavy rainfall triggered flooding in parts of Lekki, Ikeja, Oshodi and Ikorodu, disrupting economic activities and displacing residents.
In Ogun State, the situation also highlighted concerns about awareness and coordination. The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said he was unaware of the details of the state’s ecological fund allocation.
“I don’t know much about the fund because I don’t know how they disburse the fund and how much has been released,” he said.
The development has intensified concerns among stakeholders, particularly as federal agencies continue to warn of impending floods across the country.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency have repeatedly urged state governments to prioritise preventive measures, including clearing drainage systems, desilting waterways and strengthening emergency response mechanisms.
More recently, the Federal Government issued a fresh flood alert, warning that communities in 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory could experience flooding between September 27 and October 10, 2026.
The warning, issued through the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre under the Federal Ministry of Environment, classified vulnerable communities into Critical Risk, High Risk and Moderate Risk categories.
States listed under the Critical Risk category include Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.
The Federal Capital Territory was placed under the High-Risk category, alongside several communities in Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa and Kebbi states.
Additionally, states such as Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa were placed on the Moderate Risk Watchlist.
In total, about 14,000 communities nationwide were projected to face varying degrees of flooding during the period.
The centre urged state governments and other stakeholders to act proactively by clearing blocked drainage channels, reinforcing embankments and preparing for emergency evacuations where necessary.
Analysts say the recurring floods underscore the need for improved monitoring and accountability in the utilisation of ecological funds, as well as better coordination among federal, state and local authorities.
They warn that without timely and effective deployment of resources, the annual cycle of flooding could worsen, leading to greater humanitarian and economic losses.
As the peak of the rainy season approaches, attention is increasingly focused on how states will deploy the funds already received to mitigate the impact of floods and protect vulnerable communities.
