The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to probe the spending of ecological funds by the Borno State government.
In a letter dated September 21, 2024, SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare stated that the organization is concerned about alleged corruption and mismanagement of ecological funds collected by Borno State since 2001, totaling billions of naira, including N816 million received between January and June 2024.
SERAP urged President Tinubu to:
1. Direct the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate ecological fund spending.
2. Ensure access to justice and effective remedies for affected victims.
3. Prevent corruption in ecological fund management.
The organization highlighted reports of:
– Mismanaged and diverted funds
– Substandard and abandoned projects
– Ecological funds used for election campaigns and political patronage
Recent floods in Borno State have killed over 30 people, affected one million, and displaced many.
Key Statistics:
– N277 billion allocated to the Ecological Fund from 2011 to 2016
– N74.2 billion released to state governments for ecological projects
– 229 people killed by floods in Nigeria since the start of the year
SERAP emphasized the government’s responsibility to protect the rights of flood victims and ensure transparency and accountability in ecological fund management.
“The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties impose obligations on your government to probe and prosecute allegations of corruption in the spending of Ecological Fund,” SERAP stated.
The organization threatened to take legal action if President Tinubu fails to act within seven days.
Vanguard.
