Between January and September 2025, Nigeria’s 36 states and 774 local government areas collectively received N94.62bn in Ecological Fund allocation, even as devastating floods claimed over 238 lives across the country within the same period, findings have shown.
The tragedy, which struck multiple communities despite steady disbursements of ecological funds meant to prevent such disasters, has raised serious questions about accountability and the management of environmental intervention resources in Nigeria.
Rising Payouts Amid Worsening Flood Disasters
According to official data obtained from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the Ecological Fund allocation to states totalled N51.87bn, while local governments received N42.75bn, bringing the cumulative amount shared in nine months to N94.62bn.
Further analysis revealed that allocations increased progressively through the year. In January, states got N2.29bn while councils received N1.7bn, totalling N3.73bn.
By February, the figure jumped over 130 per cent to N8.61bn. The upward trend continued in March and April with N9.18bn and N10.59bn disbursed respectively.
Although there was a brief decline in June, when payouts dropped by 8.8 per cent to N9.86bn, the figures peaked in August at N15.38bn, the highest monthly disbursement so far.
September saw a slight drop to N14.57bn, still significantly higher than the year’s early months.
Despite this steady increase, the impact of these funds appears minimal as floods continue to wreak havoc nationwide.
NEMA Confirms Widespread Destruction
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in its 2025 Flood Dashboard, reported that at least 409,714 people were affected by floods between January and September, with 826 injured, 115 missing, and 47,708 houses destroyed.
The report further showed that more than 62,653 hectares of farmland were submerged, threatening food security and rural livelihoods.
States most severely hit include Adamawa, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Imo, Kaduna, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Niger, and Bayelsa, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Children accounted for nearly half of those affected, followed by women and elderly persons.
Ecological Fund Allocation: A Lifeline or Lost Opportunity?
The Ecological Fund allocation is designed as a dedicated intervention mechanism to address environmental challenges such as erosion, flooding, desertification, oil spills, and drought.
However, critics argue that despite consistent disbursements, the intended outcomes have not materialised.
Environmental analysts say the persistent floods reveal a disconnect between the fund’s purpose and its utilisation at subnational levels.
They warn that unless transparency improves, the ecological fund may continue to serve as a political tool rather than a genuine disaster management resource.
A sustainability expert, Hakeem Mukhtar, noted that the growing number of ecological fund allocations should have translated into better flood prevention and environmental resilience.
He said, “When you review the data, it’s evident that the disbursements are increasing. However, the environmental impact remains weak.
Many flood-prone communities still lack drainage systems or early warning infrastructure. The real problem is not funding, but mismanagement.”
Accountability and Transparency Concerns
Experts and civil society groups have long criticised the opaque management of the ecological fund.
Many state governments reportedly fail to disclose how their monthly allocations are spent, and few have functioning ecological management committees.
President of the Africa Environmental Health Organisation, Afolabi Abiodun, told our correspondent, that the ecological fund has lost credibility due to poor monitoring and weak institutional frameworks.
“The government keeps saying it’s doing its best, but the figures don’t match the field reality. People are still dying from floods every year despite billions being shared,” Abiodun said.
“Accountability is missing. These funds should build resilience in flood-prone states, but what we see is mostly reactive spending after disasters have already happened.”
He recalled that past flood management projects, such as those initiated around the River Niger basin, were abandoned midway.
“There were ambitious efforts during the Jonathan administration to channel water and strengthen embankments. But since then, we’ve seen little continuity,” he added.
The Call for Reform
Environmentalists are urging the Federal Government to strengthen oversight of the Ecological Fund allocation by enforcing transparency and linking disbursement to performance metrics.
They also advocate the adoption of data-driven and community-based approaches that prioritise preventive measures like urban drainage mapping, early warning systems, and reforestation.
Mukhtar stressed that flood management should move beyond reactive emergency responses.
“Each year, we rebuild after destruction instead of preventing it. There must be a policy shift from relief to resilience,” he said.
Human and Economic Toll
The flood crisis is not only a humanitarian issue but also an economic one.
With over 62,000 hectares of farmland submerged, the agricultural sector faces a looming crisis that could worsen inflation and food scarcity.
Communities in Bayelsa, Benue, and Anambra, for instance, continue to count losses as displaced families struggle to rebuild.
Local economies dependent on farming, fishing, and small-scale trading have been disrupted, compounding Nigeria’s poverty challenge.
Toward Sustainable Environmental Governance
As Nigeria grapples with climate-induced disasters, experts insist that effective management of the Ecological Fund allocation could be a game-changer.
By integrating transparency, sustainability, and community involvement, the government could transform the fund into a true vehicle for environmental protection.
Until then, the rising death toll and destruction from floods may continue to serve as grim reminders that funding alone cannot solve environmental crises—only accountability and effective implementation can.
