According to the budget performance report, the agency, which was allocated N6 million in the original 2025 budget, received zero funding for both quarters.
A SaharaReporters’ review of the Niger State 2025 budget performance has shown that Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s administration released no funds to the State Temporary Displaced Persons Agency between January and June 2025, covering the first and second quarters of the year.
According to the budget performance report, the agency, which was allocated N6 million in the original 2025 budget, received zero funding for both quarters.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management, which had a total budget allocation of N2,814,222,324.98, received only N28,273,810.63, representing just 1% of its budget for the period.
Personnel Expenditure
The report revealed that out of the N158,222,324.98 earmarked for personnel expenditure at the ministry, only N5,670,796.76 (3.6%) was released in the first half of the year. The Temporary Displaced Persons Agency, however, received no allocation at all under personnel expenditure.
Overhead Expenditure
Under overhead expenditure, the ministry was allocated N1,154,500,000, but just N22,563,013.87 (2%) was released in Q1 and Q2. For the Displaced Persons Agency, although N6 million was budgeted, nothing was disbursed within the same period.
Capital Expenditure
The state government budgeted N1.5 billion for the ministry under capital expenditure, yet no release was made. The Displaced Persons Agency received neither allocation nor funding under this category.
Other Expenditure
Under other expenditure, the ministry had an allocation of N1.5 million, but only N40,000 (2.7%) was released in the first two quarters of 2025. Again, the Displaced Persons Agency had no allocation and received no funds.
Growing Humanitarian Crisis
These budgetary shortfalls come at a time when Niger State has been devastated by worsening humanitarian crises. Hundreds of residents have been killed and thousands displaced in 2025 alone as a result of rampaging floods and terrorist attacks, which have turned the state into one of the epicentres of violence in northern Nigeria.
For years, Niger has consistently ranked among the states worst hit by flood disasters, banditry, and insurgent violence, raising concerns over the government’s neglect of its displaced population.
In August 2024, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that severe flooding claimed 179 lives and displaced 208,655 people across 22 states in Nigeria.
The agency further highlighted the widespread devastation, noting that 107,652 hectares of farmland and 80,049 houses were destroyed.
The hardest-hit states were largely in northern Nigeria, with the floods attributed to unprecedented rainfall and rising water levels in the Niger and Benue rivers.
Niger State alone recorded 30,000 affected persons, 28,000 displaced residents, and 9,000 hectares of farmland destroyed.
In May 2025, disaster struck again when catastrophic floods swept through Mokwa Community in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
Initial reports indicated over 200 deaths and thousands displaced. On June 2, Hussaini Ibrahim, Acting Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), told SaharaReporters that 153 deaths had been officially recorded.
By June 18, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed that more than 700 people were still missing following the Mokwa tragedy.
The state government later announced that the floods claimed 207 lives, displaced over 3,000 households, and damaged more than 400 homes—283 of which, alongside 50 shops, were completely destroyed.
Beyond flooding, Niger State continues to grapple with relentless armed banditry. Communities have been repeatedly attacked, leaving dozens of residents and security personnel dead.
In June 2025 alone, about 20 Nigerian Army soldiers were killed and at least 10 others were injured during a fierce gun battle after armed bandits ambushed a military camp near Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area.
Just weeks earlier, in May, three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) were killed and another was injured in an attack by bandits in Wamba village, also in Mariga Local Government Area.
Follow the Sahara Reporters channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFClvtH5JM6SSsP7M2Y
