Former acting Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Air Vice Marshall, Akugbe Iyamu, (retired), has decried the handling of the Ecological Fund by state governments, insisting that the fund must be transparently deployed for flood prevention and preparedness rather than treated as part of states’ allocations.
The comments come amid recurring flooding across several parts of Nigeria, with heavy rainfall causing displacement, destruction of homes and infrastructure, and disruption to livelihoods. Despite repeated warnings from relevant authorities, concerns persist over the country’s preparedness and the implementation of measures to mitigate the impact of flooding.
Speaking on the issue, Iyamu said the country has sufficient data and warnings to prepare for flooding, but questioned what has been done with the information to protect vulnerable communities and prevent avoidable damage.
“The problem with us here is data for us to work with. Over time, the rainfall moved from between 1,150 mm and 1,202 mm to 2,000 mm and 4,000 mm. That’s quite a lot. That should have warned us.
“Between 2023 and 2025, 109 billion Naira was released for the Ecological Fund. What have the states used it for? The Ecological Fund was very, very definitive when pious people brought it on board in 1982. It was 1%. Then it was raised to 2% by President Ibrahim Babangida, and to 3% by President Olusegun Obasanjo. What are they using it for?
“Our problem is not the finances; it is the way the finances are directed.
“We have to reset what the Ecological Fund is meant for, as enshrined in the Constitution. Section 20 of the Nigerian Constitution states clearly what ecology looks like. It is not pocket money for states. This is not what Nigerian citizens deserve,” he said.
Iyamu attributed the gap in disaster preparedness to bureaucracy and the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of funds meant for flood prevention. He said states often treat ecological funds as part of their regular allocations instead of directing them towards disaster preparedness and mitigation.
“There is time to prepare for all this. You understand? Flooding now, before it gets to this stage, countries are using barriers. The Anticipatory Action Taskforce. You have 83.2 billion Naira; what are you using it for?
“They are creating a space—a space of bureaucracy. You must, first of all, create transparency, then create accountability. If you are creating a space for the Anticipatory Action Taskforce, how are you going to monitor the money? Ecological Fund—how are you going to monitor the money? If you give the money, the sub-nationals believe that this money is part of the state allocation, and they don’t separate it.”
On the flooding in Abuja, Iyamu described the damage as irreversible, arguing that the city’s original drainage and relief-line designs have been compromised. He said the reduction of relief lines from about 100 metres to as little as 10 metres has contributed to the city’s vulnerability to flooding.
“The Abuja case is irreversible damage. There’s nothing you are going to do about it again. The destruction is irreversible.
“Abuja was made as a purpose-built city. Purpose-built city—that means you build it from the beginning. Kenzo Tange, who designed Abuja, said Abuja can never flood. Can never! Because the relief lines were 100 meters—you can have six trailers passing through. But they have reduced it to about 30 meters, some even 10 meters. How are you not going to have flooding?”
Stressing the need for urgent action to tackle the worsening flood crisis in Abuja, Iyamu called for the restoration of the city’s original master plan, particularly its drainage and water-flow channels.
“What needs to happen now is to go back to the original master plan.”
For the rest of the country, Iyamu called for the Ecological Fund to be deployed for flood prevention rather than relief, including the construction of sandbanks and riverbanks.
He also advocated the harmonisation of agencies responsible for flood monitoring and response, while urging the Anticipatory Action Taskforce to deploy the ₦83.2 billion released for flood preparedness.
“For the rest of the country, now is the time to use the Ecological Fund. It is not pocket money. Not for relief.
“First of all, let us harmonize our response agencies. Instead of having NiMet, NIHSA, all of them—if they are coming under the Ministry of Environment, let them come under the Ministry of Environment.
“Two, the Ecological Fund, for preparation like this, whether you are building sandbanks, riverbanks, or whatever, that’s also there. Then, the Anticipatory Action Taskforce needs to do its work. You have 83.2 billion Naira released by the National Economic Fund—it needs to be used.”
Favour Odima
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