A review of budget performance documents by SaharaReporters has revealed that the Kogi State government allocated a mere N14.5 million for flood and erosion control between 2022 and mid-2024.
In 2022, the budget for flood and erosion management was set at N106 million. This amount was reduced to N90 million in 2023, with a slight increase to N100 million in 2024. According to the documents, Kogi State spent only N4 million in 2022 and N9 million in 2023. Additionally, between January and June 2024, the state allocated N8.6 million for similar purposes.
This lack of investment is particularly concerning given that Kogi State received N1.386 billion in ecological funds from September 2023 to July 2024.
Data from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, published by the National Bureau of Statistics, indicated that the state received varying amounts of ecological funds each month: N151.71 million in September, N110.14 million in October, N108.55 million in November, N139.71 million in December, N124.45 million in January, N137.80 million in February, N113.8 million in March, N106.3 million in April, N126.5 million in May, N117.1 million in June, and N150.9 million in July.
The impact of flooding in Kogi State has been devastating. Reports indicate that over 200 communities have been inundated, displacing nearly two million residents. In light of this, the state government has appealed to both the Nigerian government and international donor agencies for urgent assistance.
During a press conference in Kotonkarfe, Kingsley Fanwo, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, warned of a potential “humanitarian crisis.” His statement about the urgent need for support stands in stark contrast to the state’s inadequate spending on flood and erosion control.
In 2022, Kogi State was among the hardest-hit regions by flooding, with the United Nations Migration office estimating that 472,218 individuals were affected. There are growing concerns regarding the accountability of states in managing ecological funds, with claims that these funds are often handled with a lack of transparency and oversight.
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