TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW NIGERIA ECOLOGICAL FUNDS IN LINE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS 

BY AVM RTD AKUGBE IYAMU MNSA fsi

In 1981 the population of Nigeria was pproximately 75–76 million and the ecological funds was 1% and when 1992, the population increased to between 95.7 and 101.6 million the ecological funds was raised i to 2% and by 2002 the population has grown to between 129.6 and 132 million people, the ecological funds was escalated to 3%( 2% ecological and 1% derivation). Judging from the current population growth, by mid-2026, Nigeria’s population is estimated to be approximately 242.4 million people.

It will remain the most populous country in Africa ranking 6th globally thus accounting for 2.92% of the total world population. Sadly, the ecological funds still remain at 3% even when the population has doubled and climate change including extreme weather and catastrophic conditions are frequent occurrences across the country.

Let’s understand what ecological fund is: in Nigeria, Ecological was established in 1981 through the Federation Account Act 1981 following recommendations from the Okigbo Commission.

It was created as a special federal first-line intervention fund designed to address serious environmental challenges nationwide such as soil erosion, flooding, drought, and oil spills.

The fund was originally set at 1% of the Federation Account but was increased to 2% in 1992 through Decree 36 of 1984 and 106 of 1992 to cater for the expanded population that and ecological changes resulting across the country from the changing weather conditions.

Despite the substantial funds, experts and reports indicate that there are wide ranging cases of inefficiency in the management of the money to curb ecological crises.

For instance, many states have continued to face severe flooding and erosion, as highlighted by reports from the 2012, 2018 and 2022 flooding across the country with adequate response measures usingvthe ecological funds.

The situation has created a dispassionate gap between Ecological Fund and ecological challenges in Nigeria as the 2% formally designated from the Federation Account become insufficient.

The concept of providing timely and efficient intervention for natural disasters and environmental degradation across Nigeria has been met in the breach despite designating the fund as a special federal intervention fund to address multifarious ecological challenges including soil erosion, floods, drought, desertification and provide financial resources for the mitigation of environmental disasters nationwide.

The Ecological Project Office was to provide administrative support to the National Committee on Ecological Problems (NCEP), which screens and approves projects. However, despite the urgent need for environmental remediation, the office has historically focused more on disbursing funds than on project implementation, leading to calls for stricter regulation.

It has therefore become important considering the increasing population and extreme weather conditions triggered by climate change to consider raising the fund from the current 3% to at least 5%. This is to reflect the increase in the national revenue accruing to the federation account.

Additionally, the fund need to be recalibrated as a special purpose vehicle SPV to address the recurring multiple problems associated with the environment, climate change and extreme weather conditions.

Also, the Constitution and other extant laws need to be reviewed to capture the new reality of the climate change and global warming.

AVM RTD AKUGBE IYAMU MNSA fsi is the PRESIDENT ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PRACTITIONERS AND CONSULTANT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ANALYST ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

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