FCT, 6 States in North Central to account for ecological fund – says NGO

By George George ldowu

The Executive Director Waterwide Nigeria, Mr. Wilson Atumeyi, has said the six states in the North Central zone of the country has failed to account for billions of naira released to them to mitigate ecological challenges in that part of the country.

Atumeyi’s made the allegation while reacting to impacts of climate change over the states in the North Central zone and what the state governments in the area have used the ecological funds released to them on in the past couple of years.

He said state government across the country need to be more transparent and accountable in using the ecological funds released to them to curb effects of climate change.

According to him, the zone have been experiencing serious ecological problems like devastating flooding, drought, deforestation and soil erosion wondering where billions of naira ecological finds released to the states went noting that the impact of the fund was not felt in the area.

A climate change advocate, Mr. Dare Akogun, also said that the ecological funds released to states in the North Central zone and other states across the country needs be better utilised.

He lamented that despite the humongous ecological funds disbursed to states and local governments, the environment is yet to witness desired change.

According to him, the poor utilisation of these funds could be blamed in part for the inability of the country to handle the 2022 flooding, calling for more government transparency to battle the impending floods.

On the way forward, Akogun called for an audit of the funds released. He said: “There is a need for accountability and an audit of monies released. This is how to ensure accountability and transparency in managing the funds,” he said.

With increased devastation arising from frequent erosion and other natural disasters, which often led to both loss of lives and property on a wide scale, stakeholders in North Central are demanding for effective management of ecological fund to mitigate ecological challenges confronting the region.