The Federal Government has given the green light for the impact assessment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. This assessment will involve site clearance and scoping exercises to evaluate the effects on individuals and communities residing along the highway.
During the World Press Freedom Day event organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in collaboration with UNESCO, the Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, revealed this significant development.
According to Salako, the Federal Ministry of Works had submitted an application in December of the previous year for an environmental and social assessment of the project. The Ministry of Environment has conducted its initial evaluation, marking a crucial step in the process.
Salako emphasized the importance of such assessments, highlighting that they are legally mandated for certain types of projects, both public and private. He stressed the seriousness with which the Ministry of Environment approaches these assessments, noting recent observations of deficiencies in the current legislation.
In response to these identified loopholes, Salako mentioned that steps were being taken to address them at the Federal Executive Council level. The preliminary impact assessment certification has been granted for site clearance and scoping for compensation purposes.
Acknowledging the scale of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, Salako noted that due to its extensive nature, the assessment process would be a gradual one. The commitment to thorough evaluation and adherence to legal requirements underscores the government’s dedication to responsible and sustainable development practices.
Reference
FG okays impact assessment for coastal highway site published in Punch By Josephine Ogundeji