Sketchy details on states’ spendings on ecological funds

As floods continue to wreak havoc in different parts of the country, details of how states have used the ecological funds released to them within the past one year have remained sketchy.

Daily Trust recently reported the disbursement of about N40 billion to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as ecological funds to mitigate the effects of environmental degradation.

The report was based on data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which showed that the 36 states received the N39.62 billion as ecological fund disbursement from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) from June 2023 to May 2024.

At the time of the report, which was published on September 17, there were no details in respect of where the monies were channeled by the states.

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Our correspondents across the states made subsequent efforts to find out the details of the spendings, yet, very few of the states provided some explanations.

Even then, many states from the six geopolitical zones kept mute on the matter.

There have been calls by individuals and groups on state governments to publicise how they utilised their ecological funds.

The latest call was from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly investigate the spending of the billions of naira of ecological funds collected by Borno State since 2001, including the N816 million collected by the state between January 2024 and June 2024, as well as similar expenditures by the FCT and the other 35 states of the federation.

This was in the aftermath of the massive flooding from a burst at Alau Dam, which covered more than half of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

SERAP said, “Suspected perpetrators of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of ecological funds should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any proceeds of corruption should be fully recovered.”

SERAP also urged the president to “direct Mr. Fagbemi and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to urgently identify and ensure access to justice and effective remedies to affected victims in Borno State.

“Direct Mr. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation to work with appropriate anticorruption agencies to track and monitor the spending of Ecological Fund by the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 36 state governors, the 774 local government areas, as well as all emergency management agencies across the country funded through the Ecological Fund.”

Two public affairs commentators, Moukhtar Suleiman and Emmanuel Osemaka, in separate interviews with Daily Trust raised concern over the recent N3 billion approved by President Tinubu for each of the 36 states to tackle challenges associated with recent flood incidents.

Suleiman said it was wrong for the government to be throwing money at problems.

“We would never see result by releasing money whenever there is a problem without actually tackling the root cause of the problem. Tinubu should have a rethink on the N3 billion to the states,” he said.

Osemeka, on the other hand, said federal, states and local governments must have a roadmap to tackle the menace of ecological challenges, beyond releasing money.

Happenings in states

In Niger State, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Bologi Ibrahim told our correspondent that interventions were ongoing across the state but could not list the specific areas of such interventions.

He did not also confirm how much the state had received from the federal account in the last one year.

Ibrahim, however, said the state government was utilising the funds for the benefit of citizens across the state.

But investigation by Daily Trust revealed that some agencies that directly manage disasters like flooding such as the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) was supposed to receive two per cent of the ecological funds disbursed to the state.

Daily Trust had reported how flood recently destroyed farmlands and houses worth millions of naira in Mashegu and Magama local government areas (LGAs) of the state. This followed torrential rains that lasted for hours in the affected areas.

Sokoto

Similarly, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Environment, Nura Tangaza, said he could not speak on the matter because the ecological fund was under the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

When contacted, the SSG, Alhaji Bello Sifawa referred our reporter to the Ministry of Finance. However, the Finance Commissioner, Muhammad Jabbi Shagari, did not respond to repeated calls to his cell phone. Also, he did not reply to a text message sent to the line by one of our reporters.

Yobe

In Yobe, officials of the state government kept mum on the N652.45 million ecological funds allocated to the state in the first half of 2024.

Yobe is one of the states that battle flooding annually, which often force many residents to take refuge in government buildings and other facilities while others relocate to live with their relatives.

When a Daily Trust correspondent contacted Mamman Muhammad, the Director General Press and Media Affairs to the Yobe State governor, he said the ministry of environment should be contacted.

“As a spokesperson to the governor, I cannot tell you anything about this fund.

“It is the ministry of environment and that of finance that handle the funds and execute projects with the funds”, he explained.

All efforts to contact the Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change, Sidi Karasuwa, were not successful.

 His number was not reachable and he did not respond to a text message sent to his cell phone up to press time last night.

A director in the ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to our correspondent the receipt of the ecological funds.

 “It is true that ecological funds have been released to the state treasury but, as a director in the ministry, I can’t give you details of how the monies were used”, the director said.

One of our correspondents also contacted the Commissioner of Finance, Muhammad Abatcha Geidam, who said he would not talk on the matter.

Kebbi 

In Kebbi State, a top government official in the Ministry of Environment, who does not want his name in print, said the ecological funds disbursed to the state are released in part to the state emergency management agency (KESEMA), the ministry of environment, and other relevant agencies to manage ecological issues.

He added that the KESEMA received over N1.2 billion to procure relief materials for those displaced by recent floods, and farmers whose crops and farmlands were submerged by flood waters in some areas of the state.

“Many farmlands and houses were destroyed by flood waters in Argungu, Suru and Bagudo local government areas of the state recently. Government spent a lot in tackling the flood situation.

“In addition, the emergency management agency was given huge amount to prepare for the impending flooding predicted to hit the state by NIMET.

“You are aware that the state government also set up a committee to provide necessary measures to mitigate the impending flood,” he said.

Kwara

As for Kwara State, data from the NBS showed that the state received N584.87 million as ecological funds within the 12 months (from June, 2023 to May, 2024).

Also, in the first half of 2024, Kwara got N602.3 million which is equivalent to N50.20 million per month. This is aside the N3 billion announced by the federal government penultimate week for each state.

However, flooding has been a yearly occurrence in the state ravaging farmlands and submerging houses.

Last week, over 2,000 people were displaced when flooding, due to persistent rains, destroyed over 100 households in Moro Local Government Area.

In April, no fewer than 35 houses were destroyed with several residents rendered homeless following a heavy rainstorm that rocked the Igbonna community, in Oyun Local Government Area.

Efforts to get the Commissioner for Environment, Nafisat Musa Buge, was not successful as several calls to her number did not connect.

But the Press Secretary of the ministry, Kamaldeen Aliagan, said the issue was not under the purview of the ministry.

The SEMA official in the state, Mr. Moshood Magaji, told our correspondent that he would get in touch after speaking with those concerned but was yet to do so as at press time yesterday.

Plateau

Daily Trust reports that Plateau State is one of the states suffering from ecological problems resulting from rampant mining activities and degradation, especially in the northern senatorial district, which comprises Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Jos-east, Jos-north, Jos-south and Riyom LGAs.

When contacted for comments on the matter, the Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Musa Ashoms, did not respond to inquiries about the state’s usage of ecological funds to address ecological problems.

Benue

In Benue State, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, Odoh Ugwu, who admitted that the government had fully prepared to handle any potential flooding, however, did not explain how the ecological funds accrued to the state in the past one year was spent.

Ugwu said: “I am not in a position to answer that question.”

The Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, did not respond to calls put through his telephone.

Kogi

In Kogi, records from the NBS showed that the state got   N726.08 million as ecological funds between June 23, 2023 and June 23, 2024.

The Kogi State Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management had convened an emergency meeting penultimate Friday, with key stakeholders to discuss strategies for emergency management and response to an impending flood disaster. Kogi is one of the 11 states listed as likely to experience flooding following the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroun.

The commissioner in the ministry, Engr. Joseph Oluwasegun, led relevant ministries and agencies to the areas prone to flooding.

The stakeholders’ committee stated that  42 IDP camps have been established across eight  local government areas, with nine flood-prone areas identified, and approximately 250,000 people expected to be displaced.

However, the stakeholders were silence on the amount expended so far to combat flood incident in 2024.

Efforts made by our correspondent to establish the amount of money so far spent or voted for flood disaster since 2023 was not successful as the stakeholders contacted kept mum.

Kano

Devastating flood this year affected over 30,000 residents in Kano State, with 1,414 people displaced, 6,585 houses destroyed and 49 deaths recorded.

The state received about N2.1 billion as ecological funds between June 2023 and June 2024, according to the NBS.

The state government plans to build modern and affordable houses for flood victims. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf announced this after the state executive council meeting last week.

But the governor was silent on whether this would be financed from the ecological funds provided by the federation account.

When contacted to comment on how the ecological funds were utilised in the state, the Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, referred our correspondent to the Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibrin Fagge. Efforts to reach Fagge were, however, not successful.

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state had announced its intention to monitor how the N3 billion flood relief fund provided by the federal government will be utilised.