INTRODUCTION
Early practices in project
assessment were limited and often based on technical feasibility studies and
cost benefit analysis. Till recently, the environment factors were not taken
into consideration while examining viability of a project. The growing number of
cases of adverse environmental consequences as a result of interactions between
socio-economic and industrial development activities have led to a serious
rethinking that environmental consequences have to be explicitly considered
in the decision making process. Various laws have been enacted in different
countries of the world, to make EIA essential for the approval of all the new
development project, Nigeria
therefore is not an exception.
Ever since the 1972 Stockholm UN conference
on the human environment, which established the nexus between under development
and environmental issues have become
transnational. Awareness has generated of the devastating impact of
uncontrolled exploration of environmental resources. The threat to wild-life,
ecosystem, fauna and flora and objectives are the protection and preservation
of the environment.
Environmental impact
assessment (EIA) is a procedure designed to identify the potential impacts
(positive /adverse) of the development project on the surrounding environment.
Further more, the
1992, UN conference on environments and development other wise know as the
“earth summit” of Rio de Janeiro, generated an action plan for sustainable
development in the 21st century, which has become the policy instrument
that drives environmental programmes in most developed countries. In fact
principles 3 of the Rio declaration on
environment and development provides that “the right to development must be
fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of project
and future generations”.
Yet, in the bid to
develop via industrialization, developing countries are constrained to pursue
the same development models whose fall out assault and degrade the environment.
How to develop creatively, without compromising the native integrity of the
environment now constitutes major challenges
Environmental impact
assessment is the perceived tool for achieving the desired balance. Nigeria is one
of the few developing countries that have specific relative legislation and therefore
this work assesses Nigeria’s
environmental impact assessment act 2004 and its practical relevance as an
environmental management tool especially in respect of core infrastructure
projects.
AIM
AND OBJECTIVES OF EIA
· The
objective of an EIA is to ensure that environmental problems are foreseen and
properly addressed.
· Optional
utilisation of finite natural resources through use of better technologies and
management packages.
· Incorporating
suitable remedial measures at the project formulation stage to ensure minimum
harm to the surrounding environment .
To
achieve this aim, decision makers must fully understand the EIAs conclusions.
Environmental clearance of the activities is carried out by the central/ or the
state governments.