This policy brief by the Clement Isong Foundation, supported by ActionAid Nigeria, analyzes the utilization of Ecological Funds in Nigeria’s Akwa Ibom State. It highlights a critical gap: despite receiving approximately ₦1.78 billion from 2023 to mid-2025, the state faces persistent ecological challenges like coastal erosion, flooding, and oil spills with little visible impact from these funds.

The report identifies systemic failures driving this inefficiency. Key issues include a severe lack of transparency and accountability, with no timely public disclosure of how the funds are spent. There are also significant legal and regulatory gaps, such as the absence of a State Ecological Management Agency and a master plan. Furthermore, community involvement is minimal, and coordination with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which automatically receives 50% of the state’s allocation—is weak, leading to duplicated or abandoned projects.

To address these challenges, the brief offers strategic recommendations. These include enacting legal and institutional reforms, such as establishing a dedicated state agency. It urges the development of a State Ecological Master Plan and the institutionalization of participatory community mechanisms. It also advocates for leveraging technology for real-time monitoring and forging a stronger collaborative framework with the NDDC and local governments to ensure ecological funds are used effectively, equitably, and transformatively for the benefit of Akwa Ibom’s vulnerable communities.