Environment
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THE Lagos State Government has restated the need for an environmental impact assessment, EIA, report for any proposed project in the state. According to the state, the EIA is a decision making tool which provides decision makers with the necessary information to satisfactorily assess both the environmental and social effects of a planned project.
Babatunde Adejare, commissioner for the Environment in the state, disclosed this at the stakeholders’ engagement on environmental impact assessment for dredging and land reclamation projects in Lagos State, held at Ikorodu Local Government and Eti-Osa East Local Council Development areas.
According to Adejare, EIA ensures that the potential impact of a proposed project is identified and measures for mitigation proffered before the commencement of the project.
The commissioner who was represented by Sherif Savage, director, Environmental Management, also emphasised that the EIA was a vital part of project implementation process in which community members must be involved.
He, therefore, enjoined communities to have interest in any proposed project brought to their domain and demand for EIA on such projects to forestall untoward consequences.
“Environmental impact assessment ensures that people to be affected by the project are carried along in the project implementation process. It reduces or eliminates conflicts between project proponents and community members, while it enhances public acceptance of projects and their sustainability”, he said.
According to the commissioner, the EIA report is a process which includes the submission of terms of reference, ToR, for the environmental impact assessment; Registration of proposed project with the regulating ministry; site verification which involved seeing and assessing the nature and sensitivity of the site; field studies and submission of draft EIA report upon approval of term of reference.
Other steps are the review of draft EIA report for the purpose of evaluating the adequacy of the technical details of the report and the approval or disapproval of the EIA report.
While debunking some of the misconceptions about the EIA, he noted that carrying it out would not be a money making venture for government or waste of time and resources.
— Jan 23, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT
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