This is according to data from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The Nigerian Ecological Fund is a special fund established by the Federal Government to address various environmental challenges and natural disasters across the country.
It was established to address the ecological challenges in the country, particularly those arising from soil erosion, flood control, desertification, and other environmental degradation issues.
It is funded from a portion of the Federal Account and is intended to be distributed to states and local government units for environmental projects aimed at reducing the impact of environmental hazards. Increase in Total Eco Fund Approval for Borno State
based on FAAC data for Borno State from January to June 2024, the total monthly expenditure is N816.34 million compared to N749.68 million for the same period in 2023. This represents an increase of about 8.89% year-on-year, albeit with fluctuations. Monthly allocation.
In January 2024, Borno State received N139.89 million, a decrease of 7.21% from N150.76 million in January 2023.
However, the allocation for February 2024 was N154.99 million, an increase of 39.37% compared to N111.20 million in February 2023.
In March 2024, Borno received N127.99 million, an increase of 22.31% from N104.64 million in March 2023. In April 2024, NGN 119.52 million was disbursed, a 9.57% increase from NGN 109.07 million in April 2023.
The allocation for May 2024 was NGN 142.28 million, a 12.36% increase compared to NGN 126.63 million allocated in the same month last year.
In June 2024, Borno State received NGN 131.67 million, a 10.65% decrease from NGN147.37 million in June 2023.
A total of NGN816.34 million was received from the Ecological Fund, but the 2024 State Budget Implementation Report shows a clear contrast between allocated funds and actual expenditure on flood and erosion control.
NGN20 million was spent on flood and erosion control in the first half of 2024. Reporters’ research shows that only 20 million naira has been spent on flood control in the first half of 2024, which is just 2.45% of the total environmental allocation. The amount was only disbursed in the second quarter of the year, as nothing was disbursed on this budget allocation in the first quarter of 2024.
The budget allocated for erosion and flood control in Borno City remains underutilized. The revised 2024 budget allocated NGN 1,653 million for flood control, of which only 1.2 percent has been spent, raising questions about the state’s preparedness and commitment to address this recurring issue.
Borno State allocated NGN 1,042 million for flood and erosion control in 2023, but no funds were disbursed on this allocation throughout the year. This reflects a worrying trend of underutilization of funds allocated for critical infrastructure projects, especially considering the region’s vulnerability to severe flooding. What you need to know
This funding gap has attracted considerable attention, especially in light of the devastating floods that have claimed at least 30 lives in Borno. The floods have left hundreds of thousands of people homeless, and many residents have recounted their harrowing experiences in evacuation centres.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the flooding began after the Alau Dam overflowed following heavy rains, causing the worst flooding in the city in 30 years.
A coordinated response by the military and emergency agencies to the ongoing flood disaster has seen over 719 residents rescued from flooded areas.
Earlier, Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum said the government’s preliminary assessment showed that more than a third of Maiduguri has been submerged, with an estimated one million people affected by severe flooding. The governor also announced that flood victims have been given a cash grant of N10,000 per household. He added that the Federal Government has allocated N3 billion Flood Intervention Fund to provide immediate assistance to flood-affected communities.
The recent floods have highlighted the urgent need for flood control measures. However, the complete underspending for 2023, coupled with minimal spending of only N20 million for 2024 (just 1.2% of the revised budget of N1.653 billion), raises serious concerns about the state’s disaster preparedness and response under Zulum’s leadership.
