States Receive N39.6bn Ecological Funds in One Year
A publication by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Nigeria’s 36 states received N39.62bn as ecological fund allocations from June 2023 to June 2024 from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
The ecological fund is a crucial part of Nigeria’s federal revenue allocation, specifically designated to address various environmental challenges nationwide, including erosion, desertification, flooding, oil spills, and drought.
Established in 1981, the fund is drawn from the Federation Account at a rate of two per cent, with the primary objective of assisting all tiers of government in tackling ecological problems. The fund’s disbursement process is managed by the Ecological Fund Office, under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Over the past year, the Federal Government distributed N39.62bn among the 36 states. The disbursements reflect the varying degrees of environmental challenges faced across Nigeria, with funds allocated based on the severity of these challenges.
Kano State received the highest allocation, totalling N2.1bn, averaging N175m per month. Borno State, which is dealing with environmental damage linked to the insurgency, received N1.68bn (averaging N140m per month), the second-highest allocation.
Other top recipients of the ecological fund include Lagos with N1.81bn (averaging N150.83m per month), Kaduna with N1.4bn (averaging N124.17m per month), and Sokoto with N1.49bn (averaging N124.17m per month).
Conversely, the states with the lowest allocations include Kwara, receiving N602.3m (averaging N50.20m per month), Bayelsa with N598.79m (averaging N49.90m per month), and Ondo with N629.42m (averaging N52.45m per month).
Edo received N632.8m (averaging N52.73m per month), and Abia received N633.68m (averaging N52.81m per month).
Adamawa received N1.24bn (averaging N103.33m per month) to address issues such as erosion and flooding. Anambra was allocated N1.35bn (averaging N112.50m per month).
Benue, affected by desertification and flooding, received N758.97m (averaging N63.25m per month). Cross River received N680m (averaging N56.67m per month), with the funds targeted at managing deforestation and erosion.
Enugu received N1.36bn (averaging N113.33m per month) for its ecological interventions.
