The Nigerian federal government has applauded the state government of Ekiti for its shown conduct of compliance with the National Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) act of Nigeria and other existing environmental laws and regulations in the execution of developmental projects. The state’s efforts to lessen the adverse effects of the project on the environment and the socioeconomic well-being of locals are seen as a necessary first step in solving the pressing and foreseeable environmental problems that would arise as a result of the construction and operation of the project.
Represented by a Deputy Director in the Environmental Assisted Department of the Ministry, Dr. Musa Gashua, Minister for Environment Barr Mohammed Abdullahi gave the commendation in Ado- Ekiti during a three-day panel review meeting of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) reports on Ekiti Cargo Airport, Ado-Akure dualized road and Ekiti State Knowledge Zone projects in the state. For all significant developmental initiatives in the nation, he said, advocates are required under the provisions of the EIA Act CAP E12 LFN 2004 to conduct an environmental and social impact assessment.
Projects must be carried out without compromising environmental elements.
To expose environmental difficulties, social obstacles, and other undesirable effects connected with project execution, Abdullahi urged other state governments to undertake an environmental and social impact assessment of projects in his remark on the ESIA reports for the three projects. He argues that the country’s environmental degradation, pollution, and catastrophic natural disasters like floods, erosion, landslides, and others are all related to a lack of attention given to such assessment reports and that this lack of focus is the root cause of all of these challenges.
He added that the panel review meetings involving the three tiers of government and other essential stakeholders would increase public engagement and contributions in ensuring that the projects were carried out in the most environmentally and socially sustainable manner possible. While projects are a sign of progress and development, they must be carried out in a manner that does not compromise environmental elements or the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act (EIA Act) CAP E12 LFN 2004 or any other legislation currently in effect in the nation.
The project will encourage other state governments to adopt EIA.
A panel of regulators and experts has been assembled to carefully examine and evaluate the EIA to make sure it follows global best practices. According to Gashua, the viability of the project, its influence on the environment, and the technical feasibility of the project have all been reviewed, and the project’s pedigree has been extensively examined. Having fulfilled all necessary procedures, he deemed the initiative an effective means of encouraging other state governments to adopt Environmental Impact Assessments for upcoming projects.
An advisor to the State Government on environmental affairs, Dr. Akinyemi Akinyugha, stressed the State Government’s commitment to the implementation of suggestions for environmental management both during and after the execution of the projects. Just as the government places a high value on the health, safety, and wellness of the people of Ekiti, he said, conducting ESIAs for the projects is a top priority. Dr. Akinyugha reaffirmed that the state administration is committed to achieving sustainability in all aspects of its development plan.
Current state is leveraging its potential for more development.
The Ekiti state government is maximizing its agrobusiness and knowledge economy potential by capitalizing on its proximity to Lagos and its significance as a gateway to the North from the South. Members of the Federal Ministry of the Environment, the Ekiti State Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, chairman of the benefited local governments, environmentalists, representatives from the relevant regulatory bodies, ecologists, geographers, and socioeconomic experts all made up the panel that visited the sites of the projects.
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