By Abdullahi Lukman
As Nigeria enters the 2025 rainy season, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and several state governors face mounting pressure to fulfill their environmental promises amid growing threats from gully erosion and flooding.
Nearly two years into office, records reveal a blend of ambitious commitments, partial execution, and ongoing systemic challenges that continue to put millions of Nigerians at risk.
NatureNews checks have revealed that under Tinubu’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) for 2025, the federal government allocated ₦6 billion for erosion and flood control projects across the country.
A report by Daily Trust revealed that notable beneficiaries of these funds include Onyonma in Bayelsa Central (₦400 million), Ndon Eyo in Akwa Ibom, and Ikebiri in Bayelsa (₦300 million each), with smaller allocations going to Borno, Niger, Kubwa in Abuja, and other regions.
In addition, a Punch report indicated that between September 2023 and April 2024, ₦34 billion in ecological funds were distributed to states to aid in mitigating environmental challenges.
But poor project execution and widespread failure of funds utilization have hampered meaningful progress and impact.
For instance, in Kogi State, which was allocated ₦30 billion for erosion control, delays attributed to contractor mobilization issues and inadequate oversight have left communities in Etahi, Omigbo, and Ankpa exposed to worsening environmental risks.
It was gathered that the ₦12 billion allocated to Gombe state since 2023 to combat gully erosion has struggled due to logistical problems and the absence of a coordinated implementation framework.
Other states have faced similar difficulties.
A Reuters article from November 2024 pointed out that although Anambra has made strides in improving flood forecasting and promoting sustainable practices, deforestation and poor waste management continue to undermine progress.
Benue’s collaborative efforts with NGOs and local communities have yielded modest success, but federal funding shortfalls have constrained broader implementation.
Abia’s urban drainage projects in Aba, initiated with local contractors, have struggled to scale due to a lack of skilled manpower. Meanwhile, Enugu’s ₦1 billion investment in localized erosion control has been insufficient to cover the state’s vast unprotected hilly regions.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while drainage systems and embankments in Kubwa have seen improvements, suburban areas continue to suffer from unchecked erosion. Zamfara State on its part, exemplifies the issue of poor fund utilization.
Despite receiving ₦4 billion in ecological funds, the state spent nothing on erosion or flood control in 2024, even as fatalities due to environmental hazards increased. Similarly, in Borno, only 1.2% of the allocated ₦1.65 billion has been spent. The slow pace of progress is alarming, especially as the rainy season approaches.
A review of government data shows that projects approved as far back as 2017 remain pending in 27 states, exposing communities to continued danger from erosion and flooding.
In November last year, the federal government announced plans to rehabilitate the Kano River irrigation project in the North-West geopolitical zone for improved food production as part of its Renewed Hope Agenda. The project is however, yet to commence.
State governments on their part have also failed to adequately tackle flooding and other environments issues despite huge allocations.
Data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee published by the National Bureau of Statistics in August last year showed showed that Nigeria’s 36 states received N39.62bn as ecological fund allocations from June 2023 to June 2024,
According to he report, Kano State received the highest allocation, totalling N2.1bn, averaging N175m per month, while Borno State received a total N1.68bn (averaging N140m per month), the second-highest allocation.
The 2024 floods in Nigeria widespread devastation, impacting millions of people and resulting in significant human and material losses. The floods led to displacement, injuries, deaths, and affected essential services like schools and healthcare facilities.
Over 7.1 million people were affected, with 4,496 injured and 1,501 deaths, as reported by the UNICEF. The floods also exacerbated existing health issues and led to a rise in malnutrition cases, particularly in the BAY states (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe).
In the South/South, states including Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, suffered severel losses with seversl farmlands and homes submerged, leaving the people to grapple with hunger. Children were sent out of schools through our the three-months period that the flood lasted. Places of worship and healthcare facilities were also affected.
A report produced by OCHA Nigeria in collaboration with humanitarian partners in November 2024 revealed that over 320 people died, while 1.3 million persons were affected by floods in 34 states in Nigeria.
It was also reported in 2024, erosion in Nigeria, particularly gully erosion, had a devastating impact, including displacement, damage to homes and infrastructure, and loss of agricultural land in the southeastern and southwestern states of Nigeria.
In the Nanka community, Orumba North local government srea of Anambra State, it was reported that a large gully swallowed homes, farms, and roads, creating a sense of fear and displacement among residents.
In Akodo-Ise, a coastal community in Lagos State, homes and graves were lost due to erosion, forcing residents to rebury their ancestors and face a future of uncertainty.
Recently, a devastating landslide that left a trail of destruction, was reported in Isounbiri compound in Odi community, Bayelsa State. The disaster destroyed homes and properties worth millions of naira, leaving residents shocked and displaced.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in its 2025 forecast themed Flood Resilience: Focusing on Communities Preparedness and Adaptation Strategies for Flood Management, stated that flooding is expected to hit 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2025, putting more than 1,200 communities at high risk.
The report released on April 2025 pointed out that States at high risk include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Additionally, 2,187 communities in 293 local government areas (LGAs) across 31 states and the FCT are projected to face moderate flood risk.
NatureNews checks revealed that most states affected by flooding have consistently set up committees, with the primary focus of either cleaning up drainages and relocating people to higher grounds during the flooding period, an initiative that has not yielded any positive result.
