Data from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, as published by the National Bureau of Statistics, reveals that Borno State received N815.9 million in ecological funds between January and June 2024. The funds were intended to address environmental challenges, such as erosion and flooding.
The breakdown of the funds shows that Borno received N139.8 million in January, N154.9 million in February, N127.9 million in March, N119.5 million in April, N142.2 million in May, and N131.6 million in June. Despite receiving these funds, the state government failed to prevent the collapse of the Alau Dam, which had been flagged as a potential risk.
Warnings about the dam's vulnerability were reportedly ignored by the Borno State Government, despite early alerts. Secretary to the Borno State Government, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, had previously dismissed concerns, stating that the dam was intact and that there was no risk of Maiduguri flooding.
However, the state's decision to downplay the warnings, despite having millions of naira allocated for ecological management, has raised questions. According to reports, Borno spent just N20 million, or 2.4%, of its ecological funds on erosion and flood control in the first half of 2024.
Accountability expert Odeh Friday, director of Accountability Lab, expressed concerns about the misuse of ecological funds across the country. He emphasized the need for greater transparency, stating, "There is a need for proper accountability around the management of these funds."
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that the recent flooding in Maiduguri displaced 200,000 people, with many others, including children, still missing. The state's lack of response has sparked criticism, as the ecological funds were intended to mitigate such disasters.
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