Flood-Affected Borno State Under Scrutiny: SERAP Demands Investigation into Ecological Fund Mismanagement
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to order a thorough investigation into the billions of naira Ecological Fund collected by Borno State since 2001. The organization is also seeking a probe into the N816 million collected by the state between January and June 2024. The demand comes amidst severe flooding in the state, which has left many devastated and in dire need of assistance.
According to a letter signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the government has a legal obligation to address the prevalence of flooding and its impact on citizens. The organization emphasized that the money meant to stop the floods should not be lost to corruption.
In the letter, SERAP highlighted the devastation in Borno and emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the spending of ecological funds by all tiers of government and emergency management agencies. The organization urged the President to take recommended measures within seven days of receiving the letter, or SERAP would consider taking legal action to compel the government to comply with their request.
As the government struggles to contain the effects of the devastating floods, SERAP is calling for accountability and effective management of the Ecological Fund to ensure that resources are utilized for the betterment of the people and not lost to corruption.
The fate of flood-affected victims in Borno and other parts of the country hangs in the balance, as SERAP continues to push for transparency and accountability in the use of ecological funds. With this demand, the organization hopes to bring about positive change and ensure that those responsible for mismanaging these funds are held accountable.
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