Report Shows How Governor Spent N2.9billion On Refreshments In Six Months, Zero Naira On Flood Disaster Preparedness
Report Shows How Governor Spent N2.9billion On Refreshments In Six Months, Zero Naira On Flood Disaster Preparedness
This is according to a review of Kogi State’s second-quarter 2026 budget performance report, which also serves as the state’s half-year budget implementation document.
Despite repeated warnings about flooding and the state’s long history of devastating flood disasters, the administration of Governor Usman Ododo prioritised spending on refreshments and meals over flood preparedness during the first six months of 2026.
This is according to a review of Kogi State’s second-quarter 2026 budget performance report, which also serves as the state’s half-year budget implementation document.
The official budget performance report, published by the Kogi State Government, shows that the state spent a total of ₦2.9 billion on refreshments and meals between January and June 2026, covering the first and second quarters of the year.
In contrast, although the state budgeted ₦1 billion for flood preparedness in the 2026 fiscal year, the review showed that no funds had been released or spent on the programme as of the end of June.
The spending pattern has renewed concerns over Kogi State’s approach to disaster preparedness, particularly given its vulnerability to annual flooding.
Data reviewed by SaharaReporters also indicate a pattern of limited investment in flood management despite substantial ecological fund allocations.
Kogi State received approximately ₦1.26 billion in Ecological Fund allocations during the 2025 fiscal year.
Monthly inflows included ₦70.8 million in January, ₦87.9 million in February, ₦94.2 million in March, ₦82.9 million in April, ₦93.5 million in May, ₦85.6 million in June, ₦108.8 million in July, ₦126.1 million in August, ₦140.2 million in September, ₦115.8 million in October, ₦129.5 million in November and ₦133.1 million in December.
Despite these inflows, the state budgeted ₦1.15 billion for erosion and flood-control projects but spent only ₦516 million by the end of the year, representing less than 50 per cent implementation.
Budget records further show that the state reportedly spent only ₦29.8 million on erosion and flood-control projects in 2024 and just ₦1.927 million in 2023, figures considered inadequate relative to the environmental risks confronting the state.
The concerns are heightened by Kogi’s repeated experience with destructive flooding.
In July 2025, it was reported that no fewer than 500 houses were submerged, while property worth millions of naira was destroyed by floods in Kabba, the headquarters of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Earlier, the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) identified Kogi among states facing significant flood threats.
The report projected that 23 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, covering 132 local government areas, fall within the high flood-risk zones.
“In Kogi State, 10 local governments are expected to experience a high flood risk, which includes Ajaokuta, Omala , Kogi , Lokoja, Ofu, Bassa, Idah, Adavi, Ibaji and Igalamela-Odolu,” the report read in part.
The findings suggest that despite repeated warnings by relevant agencies and the state’s recurring experience with flooding, no expenditure had been recorded for flood preparedness midway into the 2026 fiscal year, even as spending on refreshments and meals had already reached ₦2.9billion.
