By Aminu Abubakar

Despite allocating billions of naira for erosion and flood control projects in the 2025 fiscal year, several northern Nigerian states spent virtually nothing in the first quarter, raising serious concerns about the urgency, accountability, and effectiveness of environmental interventions amid increasing climate-related disasters.

According to Q1 2025 budget performance data, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi States—all vulnerable to seasonal flooding and land degradation—reported negligible or zero expenditure on erosion and flooding control efforts, despite collectively budgeting over N34 billion for such interventions.

Jigawa State earmarked N670 million for erosion and flood control in the first quarter of 2025. However, official data indicate that no funds were disbursed or utilized during the period.

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Kano State, facing a long history of seasonal floods and infrastructure losses, had a more substantial allocation of N1.926 billion. Yet, similar to Jigawa, not a single naira was spent on erosion or flood control within the first three months of the year.

Kaduna State budgeted N416.3 million for similar purposes and likewise recorded zero naira in actual expenditure.

Most strikingly, Kebbi State allocated a staggering N28.6 billion for erosion and flood mitigation for the 2025 fiscal year—one of the highest among northern states—but also reported no disbursements or execution as of Q1.

Only Katsina State showed any indication of project execution. The Katsina State Erosion and Watershed Management Agency received an allocation of N7.589 billion in Q1 2025. Nevertheless, only N2.082 million was spent, representing a meagre 0.027 per cent of the allocated amount.

The data for Sokoto’s expenditure for Q1, 2025, was not available as of the time of filing this report.

Read Also:Severe Flooding: FG Warns Lagos, Jigawa, Niger, 27 other states

This widespread underperformance is alarming given the increasing frequency and severity of environmental disasters across the region. Seasonal floods, land erosion, and desert encroachment continue to displace thousands, damage critical infrastructure, and reduce agricultural productivity.

In August 2024, Jigawa State Governor, Mallam Umar A. Namadi, FCA, received the Minister of Defence and former Governor of Jigawa, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar (MON, mni), who visited to commiserate with victims of recent flood disasters.

That flood, which affected 14 Local Government Areas, resulted in the death of 28 people due to building collapses, and the destruction of over 7,000 houses, 6,000 farmlands, and 135 communities. Many displaced residents are still living in temporary relief camps.

Similarly, between January and September 2024, the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed that 49 people were killed and 226 communities devastated by floods and windstorms across 27 Local Government Areas.

Experts say these tragedies underscore the urgent need for proactive flood and erosion management. Yet, budgetary inaction persists even as forecasts warn of worsening scenarios.

t the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook presented by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency in Abuja, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, warned that 30 Nigerian states would face serious flooding in 2025.

Prof. Utsev listed high flood-risk states including: “Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.”

Environmental advocates and civil society organizations have expressed frustration over what they describe as “bureaucratic inertia and policy failure.” Many are calling for immediate transparency and accountability from the respective state governments.

“Unspent budgets in such a critical sector are not just a failure of governance—they endanger lives,” said Zainab Aliyu, a climate resilience advocate with the non-profit GreenRoots Nigeria. “The funds must not only be released, but properly tracked and evaluated to ensure impact.”

Analysts argue that the delay or total absence of implementation reflects broader structural problems—including inefficiencies in public procurement, weak political will, and a lack of institutional coordination.

As the rainy season approaches, pressure continues to mount on northern states to not only account for their unused budgets but to accelerate the implementation of climate adaptation measures. Without decisive action, experts warn that the region remains dangerously unprepared for the escalating impact of climate change.