Borno State received around N816.34 million from the Ecological Fund between January and June 2024.
This information came from data by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), shared by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The Ecological Fund in Nigeria is money set aside by the government to tackle environmental problems and natural disasters in the country.
This fund is meant to deal with issues like soil erosion, flooding, desertification, and other environmental problems.
The money comes from a small part of the Federation Account and is given to states and local governments to help with projects that reduce environmental hazards.
More Money for Borno
The FAAC data shows that Borno State got N816.34 million from January to June 2024. This is more than the N749.68 million it got during the same time in 2023, a rise of about 8.89%. The amounts for each month were different.
In January 2024, Borno got N139.89 million, which was 7.21% less than the N150.76 million it got in January 2023.
But in February 2024, the state received N154.99 million, up 39.37% from N111.20 million in February 2023.
In March 2024, Borno got N127.99 million, a 22.31% increase from the N104.64 million in March 2023.
In April 2024, the amount was N119.52 million, a 9.57% rise from the N109.07 million in April 2023.
In May 2024, Borno got N142.28 million, which was 12.36% more than the N126.63 million it received in May 2023.
In June 2024, Borno got N131.67 million, which was 10.65% less than the N147.37 million received in June 2023.
Although Borno received a total of N816.34 million from the Ecological Fund, the state’s report on its 2024 budget shows a big difference between the money allocated and the actual amount spent on flood and erosion projects.
Little Spending on Flood and Erosion Control
It was found that only N20 million was spent on flood control in the first half of 2024, which is just 2.45% of the total ecological money received.
This money was only used in the second quarter of the year, with nothing spent in the first quarter of 2024.
Borno’s budget for dealing with erosion and flooding is not being used well. The revised 2024 budget set aside N1.653 billion for flood control, but only 1.2% of this has been used. This raises questions about how ready the state is to handle these problems.
Even though Borno State set aside N1.042 billion for flood and erosion control in 2023, no money was spent for this purpose throughout the entire year. This is a worry as it shows a trend of not using funds meant for important projects, especially since the region often faces severe flooding.
Important Information
This underfunding is important, especially because of the devastating floods that have killed at least 30 people in Borno. The flooding has displaced hundreds of thousands, with many residents sharing their traumatic stories as they sought safety.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the flood started after the Alau Dam overflowed due to heavy rains, leading to the worst flooding in the town in 30 years.
There has been a coordinated response from the military and emergency agencies, with over 719 residents rescued from flooded areas.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, earlier said that a preliminary assessment showed that more than a third of Maiduguri was flooded, affecting about one million people due to the heavy flooding.
The governor also announced that cash distributions of N10,000 per household have been given to flood victims. He mentioned a N3 billion flood intervention fund from the federal government to provide immediate support to communities hit by the flood.
The flood showed the urgent need for flood control measures. However, the lack of spending in 2023 and minimal spending of N20 million in 2024 (only 1.2% of the revised N1.653 billion budget) raises serious concerns about the state’s disaster preparedness and response under Governor Zulum.