Despite warnings of flooding in Northern states issued by the Nigerian government, state governments are spending no money for flood and erosion control, according to data reviewed by WikkiTimes.
The high flood-risk states are Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe.”
It was further noted that some flooding Part of 72 LGAs across the country fall within the high flood-risk areas in April, May, and June; while part of 135 LGAs in July, August, and September; and part of 44 LGAs in October and November 2024 are within the high flood-risk zones,“.
Review shows that only the sum of N5.3 million was spent in the whole of the first quarter by the northern states reviewed. Further analysis show that Bauchi is the only state that spent N5.3 million in the first three months of 2024
Kano budgeted to spend the sum of N220 million but did not spend a single penny of this amount in the first three months of 2024.
It was further noted that Kogi budgeted to spend the sum of N50 Million for erosion and flooding control, however it did not spend any amount in the first three months of 2024. Data from the national emergency management agency shows that in 2022, over 623,000 were recorded to have been displaced by flooding while 152,575 hectares of farmlands were destroyed due to flooding, 514 communities were also affected with 24 deaths recorded.
States such as Nasarawa budgeted to spend N1.7billion for the whole of 2024 but for the first three months of the year failed to spend any money.
Of the N1.4 billion budgeted by Bauchi state, only N5.3 million has been spent so far in the first three months of 2024.
Jigawa budgeted N815 million , Taraba: N561 million , Kwara state : N195 million
Kaduna, N2.1 billion but they all spent Nzero in the first quarter of 2024.
Data review also shows same pattern in 2023, Kano, Gombe and Zamfara failed to spend any money on flood and erosion control in the year, with Kogi spending only N1.9 million for the whole year to tackle erosion and flooding.
In 2022, the federal government blamed poor preparation for the impacts of flooding recorded across the board.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services (NIHSA), Clement Nze, blamed state governments for disregarding “adequate and timely warnings” and weather advisories issued by the various Federal Government agencies.
Experts have expressed concerns over the ability of states to prepare adequately and tackle flooding that has been predicted for 2024
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