Despite the disbursement of over ₦620 billion in ecological funds since 2012, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned that 20 states remain at risk of flash floods this July.
In a flood alert issued Monday, NiMet identified Lagos, Benue, Edo, Sokoto, and 16 other states as facing moderate to high flood risks. Other vulnerable states include Sokoto, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.
The agency urged residents in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer zones, clear drainages, and prepare emergency kits. It also advised turning off gas and electricity supplies during flooding and called for intensified public awareness campaigns.
The warning comes as communities in Ondo State reel from the impact of last week’s devastating floods. Heavy downpours in Owo, Okitipupa, Ilaje, and Ese-Odo destroyed property worth millions of naira.
In Okitipupa, resident Joshua Jemiloni linked the flooding to erosion flowing from Igodan, adding that more than 10 buildings were damaged. Community leader Lawrence Awanebi appealed for urgent government support for displaced persons.
Chairman of Owo Local Government, Tope Omolayo, also called on federal and state authorities to intervene. In response, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said the state had begun dredging waterways and enforcing environmental regulations to curb future flooding.
“As a government, we shall continue with initiatives that will reduce the effects of floods and other natural disasters,” the governor said.
Despite these efforts, questions are being raised over the transparency and accountability in managing Nigeria’s ecological fund. Between 2012 and February 2025, the 36 states shared over ₦622 billion in ecological funding. Yet, many communities remain highly vulnerable.
Environmental experts argue that the issue is not just funding but a lack of structured planning and effective implementation.
“The government claims to be trying, but frankly, we don’t see the impact on society,” said Afolabi Abiodun, President of the Africa Environmental Health Organisation. “These funds are supposed to build resilience, not just respond to crises.”
Nathaniel Atebije, former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, attributed recurring floods to Nigeria’s failure to honor a long-standing agreement with Cameroon to construct a buffer dam along the River Benue.
“Whenever water is released from Cameroon, communities downstream suffer because the required mitigation dams were never built,” he said.
Hakeem Mukhtar, an environmental sustainability expert, blamed poor urban planning, weak enforcement of development rules, and inadequate drainage systems for the persistent problem.
“The real issue isn’t just lack of funds — it’s the absence of a data-driven, community-involved approach to flood mitigation,” he noted.
Climate researcher Abeeb Ajagbe also criticized the lack of monitoring and tracking mechanisms, pointing to widespread corruption and mismanagement in ecological fund allocation.
According to a June 2025 report by SBM Intelligence, floods have affected 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states since July 2024, impacting 1.2 million people and destroying 180,000 hectares of farmland.
In May 2025 alone, flooding displaced over 116,000 people in 12 states. Zamfara recorded the highest number with more than 58,000 affected, followed by Lagos, Kwara, Enugu, Bayelsa, and Sokoto.
Amid rising flood threats and economic hardship—Nigeria’s inflation reached over 35% in January 2024—experts are calling for urgent reforms in managing ecological funds, including independent audits, stricter oversight, and a shift from reactive to preventive strategies.
