The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has issued a flood alert for the month of July, warning that states including Sokoto, Lagos, Edo, Benue, and 16 others are at risk of experiencing flash floods.
This came as the Africa Environmental Health Organisation, climate change adaptation researchers, and members of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, among others, lambasted state governments following the recent devastating floods that ravaged several states, calling for an intense scrutiny over the management of ecological funds allocated to affected regions.
Findings showed that despite receiving over N620bn in ecological funds, many states seem ill-prepared to mitigate the impact of such disasters, raising questions about the effectiveness of these funds in enhancing environmental resilience and disaster preparedness.
NiMet’s flash flood risk alert for July 2025, released on Monday by the agency, showed the states with varying probable risks of experiencing flash flooding events due to the onset of rainfall across the country.
The agency said, “Sokoto State has a high risk of experiencing flash floods. Other states with notable risk of flash flooding are Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Rivers and Akwa Ibom.”
The agency advised residents of the states to relocate if necessary, clear drainage systems, prepare emergency kits, turn off electricity and gas during flooding, strengthen mudslide prevention, and promote community awareness.
This came as residents of some Ondo communities affected by the flood that occurred last week have called on the state government on Monday to come to their aid following the destruction of their property.
The flood occurred as a result of a downpour on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, which has reportedly destroyed property worth millions of naira in communities in Owo, Okitipupa, Ilaje, and Ese Odo Local Government Areas of the state.
It was gathered that the flood destroyed buildings and submerged bridges in the affected communities of Uso, Ayeka, Ikoya, Igbodigo, Igodan, and Igbotako.
One of the victims in the Okitipupa community, Mr Joshua Jemiloni, said, “The flooding was caused by erosion flowing down from Igodan, coupled with the fact that the Igodan stream along the road overflowed its banks during the torrential downpour. It affected about 10 buildings.”
Similarly, a community leader in Igbodigo, in Okitipupa Local Government, Lawrence Awanebi, who expressed shock at the level of destruction, also called on the government to urgently assist those rendered homeless by the flood.
Also, the Chairman of Owo Local Government, Tope Omolayo, appealed to the Federal Government, the Ondo State Government, and relevant emergency agencies to intervene swiftly.
The State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had earlier said the government had commenced initiatives that would reduce floods and other natural disasters by dredging the waterways across the state.
“As a government, we shall continue with initiatives that will reduce the effects of floods and other natural disasters by dredging our waterways and enforcing environmental sanitation laws,” he stated.
N620bn ecological funds
The PUNCH reports that despite receiving over N620bn in ecological funds, many states seem ill-prepared to mitigate the impact of such disasters, raising questions about the effectiveness of these funds in enhancing environmental resilience and disaster preparedness.
The funds, meant to support environmental sustainability and disaster management initiatives, appear to have fallen short of their intended purpose, leaving communities vulnerable to recurring flood disasters.
Critics argue that the allocation and utilisation of ecological funds should be transparent and subject to regular audits to ensure that the money is being used for its intended purpose. The lack of accountability and oversight in the management of these funds has led to concerns about potential misappropriation and inefficiency.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the floods, there is a growing demand for greater transparency and accountability in the management of ecological funds to prevent similar disasters in the future and ensure that affected communities receive the support they need to recover and rebuild.
Findings by The PUNCH indicated that the 36 states of the federation shared N622.15bn allocations from the Ecology Fund from 2012 to February 2025.
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 14 years, the Federal Government disbursed a total of N622.15bn from the Ecological Fund to the 36 states of the federation. These disbursements were guided by the severity of environmental challenges experienced across different regions, reflecting efforts to provide equitable support based on need.
According to a recent report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the enabling legal frameworks have placed the management of the fund under the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who is empowered to administer and disburse the funds in line with directives from time to time.
It stated, “Our review of revenue allocated to the fund showed that the total amount allocated and received by the fund from December 2011 (was shared in 2012) to November 2016 was N277bn.”
Subsequently, from 2017 to 2022, a total of N300bn was distributed among the 36 states, based on data from the distribution of ecology revenue allocation to states by the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
In the most recent disbursement cycle from June 2023 to June 2024, the states collectively received N39.62bn, data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee published by the National Bureau of Statistics revealed.
For January 2025, which was disbursed in February 2025, the FAAC report indicated a total allocation of N6.03bn to the states. Of this, Kano State received the highest share of N2.5bn, followed by Lagos State at N2.1bn, and Borno State, which faces extensive environmental degradation due to insurgency, received N1.97bn, while Niger State got N1.8bn.
Tragically, in Niger State, flooding took a devastating toll recently, with the state’s Emergency Management Agency confirming a significant increase in the death toll after floods ravaged Mokwa town
Mokwa’s district head, Muhammad Shaba Aliyu, said it has been 60 years since the community had suffered that degree of flooding. “I beg the government to support us,” Aliyu had said.
Meanwhile, a June 2025 report by SBM Intelligence revealed that since July 2024, floods have inundated 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states, affecting approximately 1.2 million people. The deluge has also destroyed an estimated 180,000 hectares of cultivated farmland, dealing a severe blow to the country’s agricultural productivity.
The report, published in June 2025, stated that since July 2024, 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states have been inundated by floods, affecting approximately 1.2 million people. It read, “Since July 2024, 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states have been inundated by floods, affecting approximately 1.2 million people. This widespread deluge has destroyed an estimated 180,000 cultivated farmlands nationwide.”
The floods have caused significant damage to agricultural infrastructure, further exacerbating food insecurity. The Middle Belt, known for its agricultural output, has seen widespread destruction of crops, contributing to food price inflation, which reached 35.41 per cent in January 2024.
Authorities in Nigeria have issued flood alerts and warned of heavy downpours in at least 15 of the country’s 36 states, including Niger State. These warnings were issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency.
Reacting to the development, the President of the Africa Environmental Health Organisation, Afolabi Abiodun, said the government claims to be trying, but the impact is not felt.
He said, “The government claims to be trying, but frankly, we don’t see the impact on society. Yes, the amount of money involved may be large, but it hasn’t translated into real change.
“You see, for me, the issue lies in accountability and transparency; both are missing. These funds are supposed to build resilience in flood-prone states and mitigate the effects of flooding. But what we see is merely a response to an ongoing crisis. It’s become an endemic problem in Nigeria. So many people have died. Many have lost their homes. Entire families have had to relocate. And when you look at those areas, you’ll notice the deep level of poverty; it’s clear.
“This situation keeps happening year after year. We don’t even know if the government is budgeting effectively for these issues. And even when they do, how exactly are the funds being spent? That’s the question. For example, I remember the River Niger project from years ago, maybe during the Jonathan administration. They had started work to manage flooding, allowing water to be channelled and contained.
“But suddenly the project stopped. Why? After that, we had a very serious flooding incident around 2010–2012, and similar disasters have occurred every year since. They talk about billions in funding, but there is no visible impact. We don’t even know if the funds are being used for their intended purpose, and that’s painful.”
Abiodun noted that Nigerians keep “hearing about the Ecological Fund Office, as though it’s just some emergency setup. But what about the ministries that are supposed to lead, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Works?
“What are they doing with their budgets? What are their plans or policies? What are they doing for vulnerable communities? It feels like nothing is happening. The ministries don’t seem to be serving the people. I keep asking questions; we shouldn’t only blame the federal government. What are the state governments doing?”
The immediate past President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Nathaniel Atebije, blamed recurring floods in Nigeria on the failure of the government to fulfill a crucial dam agreement with the Republic of Cameroon.
“We had an agreement with the Republic of Cameroon, where there is a bigger dam on the River Benue. It was agreed that there should be a middle-level dam to be constructed between Adamawa and Taraba states to contain flooding from Cameroon any time water is released,” he said.
Atebije added, “Now, these things are not done. These medium-level dams are not done. And so, whenever water is released from the dams, the downstream people will greatly suffer from flooding. It has taken so many lives. It has destroyed millions or billions of infrastructures. It has destroyed billions of food crops and has thrown quite a lot of places into crisis. The states are not helping matters, too, and this is sad.”
A quality, health, safety, and environmental sustainability expert, Hakeem Mukhtar, said the disbursement of over N600bn in ecological funds across 36 states over the last 14 years was, without doubt, a significant investment meant to address flooding and other environmental challenges in Nigeria.
He continued, “However, judging by the recurring devastation we continue to witness annually, especially in high-risk states like Lagos, Bayelsa, Benue, and Anambra, the impact of this funding has not matched the scale of the disbursement.
“From a practical standpoint, many communities are still without effective drainage systems, urban planning regulations are poorly enforced, and waste management infrastructure remains grossly inadequate. We’ve also seen little transparency or accountability in how ecological funds are allocated and utilized at the state and local levels.
“In my view, the issue is not necessarily the lack of funds, but rather the lack of a structured, data-driven, and community-involved approach to flood mitigation. Many flood control projects seem reactive rather than proactive, and long-term climate resilience planning is either weak or non-existent in several states.
“To move forward, we must prioritise public transparency on how ecological funds are used, independent audits of state-level implementation, community-based flood early warning systems, and integration of climate risk mapping and sustainable urban planning. Until we address the systemic issues of governance, implementation, and public participation, the billions disbursed will continue to offer minimal return in terms of resilience, safety, and environmental justice.”
In a similar vein, a climate change adaptation researcher, Abeeb Ajagbe, said while some states have indeed made efforts to mitigate the impacts of flooding through interventions like drainage construction, shoreline protection, and erosion control, a lot still needs to be done.
The environmentalist said, “There have been several media reports highlighting corruption and mismanagement in how the ecological funds are being handled, with cases cited in states like Borno and Kogi. I think Sahara reported the amount then. I believe a major issue is the lack of transparent tracking mechanisms, as there’s no clear system in place to monitor how these allocated funds are being used across the states.
“At the moment, what the fund is being used for is clearly not enough, and it is not even measurable. There needs to be more accountability, better coordination, and a stronger focus on long-term strategies like infrastructure development for flood-prone areas, effective early warning systems, and emergency response. Without this, the ecological fund risks falling short of its purpose.”
According to a report by StatiSense, flooding across Nigeria in May 2025 affected a total of 116,711 people in just 12 states.
Zamfara State emerged as the most affected, with an alarming 58,386 individuals displaced or impacted by floodwaters. This figure alone accounted for over half of all victims recorded in the report, revealing a dire humanitarian situation in the northwest region of the country.
Following Zamfara, Kwara State recorded 11,830 victims, while Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling economic capital, had 9,324 people affected. In Lagos, poor drainage, unregulated urban development, and rising sea levels continue to compound flood risks. In Enugu, the flood disrupted the lives of 7,763 residents, underscoring the southeast’s growing vulnerability to seasonal storms and inadequate waste management.
In the Niger Delta, Bayelsa State reported 5,328 affected individuals, a common pattern due to its low-lying geography and proximity to overflowing rivers. Meanwhile, Kaduna and Benue States recorded 5,149 and 4,577 victims, respectively. These northern states frequently experience both flash floods and river overflows, particularly in poorly drained rural communities
The southwest states were not spared either. Ekiti State had 4,290 people affected, and Oyo recorded 2,040 victims, showing that flood threats are increasingly becoming a nationwide concern. In the far north, Sokoto recorded 2,971 flood victims, while Taraba and Borno reported 2,473 and 2,250, respectively.
