The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called for a thorough investigation into the spending of billions of naira from the Ecological Fund collected by Borno State since 2001. This includes the N816 million collected by the state between January 2024 and June 2024. SERAP emphasized the need for suspected perpetrators of corruption and mismanagement of ecological funds to face prosecution if there is sufficient admissible evidence, with a demand for the recovery of any proceeds of corruption.
In a statement signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, the organization urged the President to ensure justice for the victims of floods in Borno State and to promote transparency and accountability in the spending of ecological funds by all tiers of government and emergency management agencies. SERAP called for urgent action to track and monitor the spending of the Ecological Fund by various entities across the country.
The statement highlighted concerns about the potential diversion, mismanagement, or lack of accountability in the use of ecological funds, noting that these funds are crucial for addressing ecological challenges such as flooding, soil erosion, and other environmental issues. SERAP emphasized the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring access to remedies for victims of natural disasters caused by climate change.
Furthermore, the statement underlined the obligations of the government to investigate and prosecute allegations of corruption related to the Ecological Fund, as well as to provide effective remedies for affected individuals. SERAP stressed that the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of ecological funds poses a direct threat to fundamental human rights and exacerbates the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable populations.
In conclusion, SERAP called for immediate steps to address the issues surrounding the spending of the Ecological Fund and emphasized the government’s responsibility to uphold integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of public funds allocated for ecological purposes.