Senate asks FG to release ecological funds to tackle erosion, landslides in Cross River

The Senate has asked the federal government to release funds from the Ecological Fund to Cross River State to address erosion and landslides that have claimed several lives and displaced residents.

The upper chamber made the call on Tuesday after adopting a motion sponsored by the senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District, Asuquo Ekpenyong, on the need to address the state’s worsening ecological crisis.

Moving the motion, Mr Ekpenyong said erosion and landslides threaten lives and property in several communities, particularly in Calabar metropolis, including Atakpa, Edim Otop, Ikot Effangha Mkpa, Nyaghasang, Ikot Anwatim, Nasarawa/Bacoco, Akai Effa, Bayside, Summit Hills and Anansa.

The senator referenced an incident in July in which a landslide at Ikot Anwatim killed five people, including four siblings from the same family. The incident also destroyed two houses and left two other residents injured.

He also reported another landslide in Edim Otop that killed an eight-year-old girl, warning that more lives could be lost if the underlying causes were not urgently addressed.

Mr Ekpenyong identified poorly designed drainage systems, indiscriminate waste disposal, unregulated sand mining, vegetation removal and vandalism of drainage infrastructure as factors worsening erosion in the state.

He urged the Senate to prevail on the federal government to approve, allocate and release adequate funding from the Ecological Fund for emergency stabilisation and comprehensive erosion-control measures, prioritising communities where lives have been lost and residents remain at immediate risk.

The senator also called on the Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Cross River State Government and relevant agencies, to immediately assess high-risk locations and commence appropriate emergency protection works.

He further urged the Federal Ministries of Environment and Works to prioritise funding for erosion-control projects in the state and ensure that major interventions are supported by proper geotechnical and hydrological assessments, sound engineering designs, effective supervision and environmental safeguards.

The motion and its prayers received the support of the majority of senators during a voice vote.

Following its adoption, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to work with the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency and affected local government councils to provide temporary shelter, food, medical care and psychosocial support to bereaved and displaced families.

Mr Akpabio also directed NEMA to facilitate the safe evacuation and temporary relocation of residents facing imminent danger, while establishing effective early-warning systems and monitoring unstable locations.

He further mandated the Senate Committee on Environment to inspect affected communities, assess existing interventions and engage relevant agencies on funding and implementation.

The committee is expected to report back to the Senate with recommendations for further legislative action.

Ecological Fund

The Ecological Fund was established in 1981 to enable the government to address serious environmental problems across the country, including erosion, flooding, desertification and other ecological emergencies. It is administered through a funding arrangement that provides shares for the federal, state and local governments to address ecological challenges within their respective jurisdictions.

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Under the existing sharing formula, 1 per cent of the fund goes to the federal government, while states receive 0.72 per cent and local governments 0.60 per cent. The federal government’s share is further distributed among the Ecological Project Office and other designated agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The Ecological Project Office, domiciled in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, coordinates ecological intervention projects across the country.

However, the fund faces competing demands from communities affected by environmental degradation. In May 2024, the Ecological Project Office called for increased funding, saying available resources were insufficient to meet the growing requests for intervention projects across the country.

Nigeria continues to face significant ecological challenges, including gully erosion, flooding, landslides and desertification. The World Bank has identified poor land and water management, inadequate planning, environmental degradation and climate variability as factors contributing to these problems. Such hazards threaten lives and livelihoods, destroy homes and infrastructure, and place additional pressure on public resources.