By Abdullahi Lukman
Kano State emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the Ecological Fund in the first six months of 2026, receiving about N1.91 billion at a time when flood and erosion risks are intensifying nationwide.
FAAC data shows that the 36 states together drew an estimated N32 billion from the Fund between January and June.
Kaduna came second with N1.58 billion, followed by Jigawa with N1.55 billion, Borno with N1.50 billion and Katsina with N1.48 billion. Other high recipients were Bauchi N1.44 billion, Niger N1.43 billion, Benue N1.35 billion, Kogi N1.33 billion and Lagos about N1.25 billion from January to May.
Set up in 1981 to tackle the country’s environmental emergencies, the Ecological Fund started with a one per cent allocation from the Federation Account. The share was raised to two per cent in 1992, and later to three per cent with the inclusion of a derivation component.
By design, the Fund is meant to support responses to flooding, erosion, desertification, pollution and related ecological crises.
Yet reviews of state budget implementation reports suggest a disconnect between receipts and actual interventions on the ground.
In Jigawa, for instance, despite taking about N1.55 billion from the Fund in the half-year, the state recorded no spending on flood and erosion control within the same period, even though N100 million was earmarked for such projects.
Kaduna’s record shows a similar pattern. The state, which got over N3 billion from the Ecological Fund in 2025, spent only about N178 million on flood and erosion-related works in that year — about 5.9 per cent of what accrued to it.
As of press time, Bauchi, Niger and Benue had not released detailed spending reports for 2026, while budget performance data from Lagos indicated that a number of key drainage and flood control projects recorded no releases in the first quarter.
The gap between allocations and visible flood defences has triggered fresh concerns from environment watchers, who question how much of the money is actually channelled into protecting vulnerable communities.
The concern is coming at a time the Federal Government is warning of heightened flood exposure. An advisory from the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre in the Federal Ministry of Environment indicates that around 14,000 communities could face varying levels of flooding between September 27 and October 10.
The Centre has asked state governments to embark on urgent desilting of waterways, clearing of blocked drains and strengthening of emergency preparedness.
Experts are also pressing for improved accountability in the use of the Ecological Fund, including public disclosure of projects executed and independent assessment of fund utilisation.
