Lagos State Govt Urges Stakeholders To Embrace EIA For Sustainable Development

The Lagos State Government over the weekend urged stakeholders to embrace Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a critical tool for environmental management.

Addressing a  stakeholders’ engagement on mainstreaming Environmental Impact Assessment and safeguard instruments into developmental initiatives at Alausa, State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab said the move is necessary to achieve sustainable development.

Wahab, who was represented by the Director of Sanitation Services Dr. Hassan Sanuth, said EIA helps in identifying the likely adverse and beneficial impacts of a project to put in place measures to mitigate the adverse ones.

He said Lagos remains the preferred destination for many businesses operating within the various sectors of Nigeria’s economy and this opens the State to economic prosperity and growth, adding that it comes with various types of environmental and social challenges.

He explained that the establishment of industrial facilities, the creation of new settlements, construction of buildings and infrastructure, all come with huge adverse environmental impacts ranging from the pollution of environmental media (Air, Land and Water) to irreversible environmental degradation if not properly managed.

The Commissioner submitted that the workshop was designed to bring together Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) and relevant stakeholders in the built and environment sector to brainstorm on the critical role of EIA and other safeguard instruments in collective strides towards sustainable development in Lagos State.

He stressed that the workshop has become necessary given the recent circular from the Head of the State Public Service which re-enforces the need for all MDAs and project developers in the state to subject their projects to EIA through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

According to him, it is for these obvious reasons that the State through the Environment Ministry has adopted the application of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in ensuring sustainable implementation of development projects in the State in line with global best practices.

Wahab said the Government cannot afford the huge cost of addressing environmental degradation and ecological challenges resulting from unwholesome project development activities, adding that the cost of doing the right things is cheaper than the cost of correcting the consequences of refusing to do them.

He averred that this was the reason the Ministry is committed to creating awareness of the need for participation and compliance with the EIA process in the State and developed the Citizens Guide on EIA to educate the public and provide them with the required information on the EIA process in the State.

He stated that as part of the efforts to strengthen the participation of people in EIA, the government had conducted stakeholder engagement meetings in several Local Government Areas in the State in the last two years where the EIA Report of some developmental projects was discussed for the understanding of the local people.

He added that the Ministry had produced audio-visual documentaries in Yoruba and Pidgin English as part of awareness/sensitization efforts and the Stakeholder’s Engagement workshop was also another awareness creation effort.
The Commissioner noted that the government is determined to take all necessary steps to protect the already fragile ecosystem of the state including a holistic enforcement of the State Environmental Laws and regulations.

He reiterated that the government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, is ready to work together with all relevant MDAs and stakeholders in the quest to achieve the objectives of the pillar “H” of this administration’s “THEMES Plus” agenda.

Wahab said protecting the environment is a collective responsibility, as the government strives to improve the welfare of Lagosians through implementation of the laudable projects, added that residents must ensure they are not creating new problems as the government is trying to solve existing ones.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen in his welcome address said EIA has become a major management tool that any nation that is determined to achieve sustainable development cannot afford to be jettisoned in project consideration and design.

Gaji, represented by the Director of Environmental Assessment, Dr. Olasunkanmi Sojinu, said MDAs and other stakeholders are the cornerstones for the realisation of the objectives of the Agenda as they implement various projects that are expected to impact positively on the lives of the people.

He said such projects include Road Infrastructure, development of residential estates, Drainage Channels, Rail Lines, Hospitals and Schools among others, adding that while these projects come as cheering news, they also bring along with them environmental impacts.