A review of A review of Kogi State’s budget performance document for the first quarter of 2025 has revealed a stark contrast in the state’s spending priorities.
While N172 million was spent on “celebrations/remembrance day” between January and March, zero funds were allocated to erosion and flood control despite a budgetary allocation of N1.15 billion for the purpose.
This comes as a reminder of the state’s troubling history of underfunding erosion and flood control efforts. In 2024, the state allocated a meager N29.8 million to the sector, while in 2023, only N1.927 million was spent.
The failure to prioritize flood management is particularly concerning given the multiple warnings of impending floods. The Nigerian government has warned that 1,249 communities across 176 local government areas are at risk of severe flooding between April and November 2025. Kogi State was listed among the high-risk states.
In October 2024, the state government reported that devastating floods had submerged over 200 communities and displaced more than two million people. Despite the scale of the disaster, concerns persist over the utilization of ecological funds by states.
Between December 2023 and November 2024, state and local governments received a combined total of N96 billion as ecological funds. However, many states, including Kogi, have failed to adequately invest in erosion and flood control measures, leaving vulnerable communities at continued risk of devastating floods.
