Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment in Nigeria - Case Study Example

Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment in Nigeria Introduction This paper reviews the environmental impact assessment process in Nigeria buy analyzing a paper written by Agaja Silas and incorporates the views of other studies that have been done about public participation and consultation in Environmental Impact Assessment. The reports indicate that there is a disparity between what is taught on paper and what is implemented in the real practice (Agaja, 2007). More than have of the projects analyzed in this study had a low level of public participation hence raising questions about enactment of an Environmental Act that is not observed during implementation. African countries and Nigeria included have to review their public participation in Environmental Impact Assessment in order to have an approval before implementing projects that have impact on the community. Environmental decisions have an impact on the lives of people and public participation and consultation has to be mandatory. This study that has been reviewed exposes the games and confirms the fear that public participation and consultation is still low in Nigeria. Discussion The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process within the country of Nigeria acknowledges the concerns and views of stakeholders particularly the community that is affected in the implementation of projects successfully. Environmental impact assessment is a the modern world a global tool for making sure that the environmental concerns are incorporated in the development programme or project planning programme. Within Africa it has been widely used starting from the endorsement by African ministers of environment in a ministerial conference that was organized in 1995. The effectiveness of EIA is not very elaborate and some cases have fallen below expectations. Some of the cases pointed out issues to do with corruptions and management, follow up mechanism, the quality of EIA projects, communication of EIA results, as well as capacity building (Kakonge, 2013). This paper emphasizes the importance `of public participation in the implementation of EIA projects. Public participation and consultation is integral to the EIA process in Nigeria. The reason for participation and consultation is to point out at the earliest stage possible the concerns of the public with regard to the effects of the projects that have been proposed for the purpose of dealing with the concerns in the course of the actual study and reflecting on the opinions in the EIA report (King, 2009). The importance of public participation has been highlighted in Nigeria through the enactment of the EIA law where public participation is paramount. Public participation is recognized within the law of Nigeria EIA Act No. 86, sections 12 and 7. The Law Act acknowledges public concerns in the in the EIA review process and outlines the procedure of notification of the public of this action and the processes of filing comments. The Act outlines the review stages where the larger public can be engaged like mediation, review panel, and public display. The World Bank explains that the breadth, type, and depth of analysis of Environmental Assessment depend on the proposed project (Petts, 2009). The risks of any project have to be contemplated and addressed prior to implementation of the project. The fears and concerns of the public have to be ironed out in the course of public participation and consultation. A project devoid of public participation can have adverse impact on the local community. The purpose of public consultation and participation is to make sure that community and public participation is part of environmental policy decision making and objectives. Besides public participation and consultation assures public confidence in the environmental administration through the demonstration of the government resolution to enforce environmental stewardship of government’s organs and agencies, elite organizations, and corporate citizens (Glasson, Therivel & Chadwick, 2005). Public participation and consultations has the role of ensuring cite ns are able to access information and data about the environment hence promotion of quality of environmental compliance and management monitoring. This paper discloses the apathy that exists between reality and what is presented on paper as proper environmental management through public participation. In reality some of the things that are emphasized in law and written theory about the importance of public participation and consultation are not implemented (Petts, 2009). The study carried out in this report reveals what happens in reality as opposed to what is presented on paper with regard to public participation and consultations as far as EIA projects are concerned. This study draws its data from 53 EIA reports that were submitted to the Federal Ministry of Environmental from the year 2001 to 2012. The reports touch on development projects such as solid mineral mining, oil and gas. The dimensions that have been applied in this study is obtained from Smith Scheme for public participation (Smith, LG 1984). The factors were ranked as high, medium and low. Sixteen reports out of the fifty three studied showed high rate of public participation. 8 of the reports were ranked as medium while 29 reports that represented 54% of all the reports were ranked as low with regard to public participation (Appiah-Opoku, 2001). It is further explained that public participation can act as both weakness and strength for the EIA process. It has been revealed that public consultation and participation in Nigeria has a long time been a weak composition of the EIA process in the country. Many factors contribute for this situation and they include the inadequate experience and skills in public participation by the EIA team, poor funding by proponents of EIA process, and the negative perception of the regulators of the public process. Despite public participation and consultation being an integral part of the EIA process there is no much input that has been directed towards making this a reality in practice (Botchway, 2011). There are many benefits that can be drawn from public participation and consultation. It enhances acceptability and transparency of the EIA process, as well as democratization of the EIA process. It is unfortunate that from the case study of the EIA reports scrutinized there is little public participation that has been portrayed hence putting the legitimacy and transparency of EIA projects in question. It can be deduced that enactment of a law Act about public participation and consultation alone is not enough but there should be a follow up in practice to make sure that it is implemented. One of the challenges that explain the reason why EIA has not been effective involves corporate and civil corruption, as well as mismanagement of the EIA process (Kosamu, 2011). Urbanization and industrialization in Nigeria takes place devoid of proper planning with regard to environmental effect of the projects. Despite legislation EIA process in Nigeria is still clouded in obscure processes that do not allow proper public participation and consultation. Public participation practice is an increasing part of decision-making in environmental project process. The opinion and concerns of the public are important since they are directly affected by the outcome of the EIA project. Considering every factor it is important to note that effective participatory processes in environmental decision-making needs good planning (Ako, 2013). Objectives setting, process planning, choosing appropriate tools and methods to be applied at each stage, and selecting the relevant public, all comprise of the planning part. They are elaborated with methods for examination of effectiveness. Environmental Impact Assessment globally is recognized as a tool for attaining sustainable development. The purpose of Environmental Impact Assessment is make sure that potential environmental impacts are foreseen in good time in the course of the project design and be dealt with precisely prior to any decision being taken on the project (Glasson, Therivel & Chadwick, 2005). The EIA comprises of a systematic process for identification, prediction, and evaluating potential effects that are associated with a development project. Conclusions There is a disparity between environmental laws that have been enacted and the implementation pace that is being witnessed in practice hence leaving out the need for public participation. The government has to be involved fully in the enforcement of Environmental Acts that stress the importance of public participation and consultation. The public or community is an important stakeholder who should be involved in the implementation of EIA projects. Corruptions and lack of transparency and accountability is a major reason contributing towards low or weak public participation and consultation during project development. The projects have an impact of the lives of people and they have to be involved from the project inception stage. Public involvement in environmental projects has to be treated more serious because the impacts of these projects are felt directly by the public. Corrupt people have to be prosecuted to encourage accountability and transparency. References Agaja, S., 2006, Public participation in environmental impact Assessment (EIA) Reports: The Nigerian experience, Industrial Safety and Environmental Technology, Petroleum Training Institute, Effurum Delta State, Nigeria. Ako, R 2013, Environmental Justice in Developing Countries: Perspectives from Africa and Asia-Pacific: Perspectives from Africa and Asia-Pacific, Routledge, London. Appiah-Opoku S., 2001, Environmental Impact Assessment in Developing Countries: The case of Ghana, Environ. Impact Assess, Rev. 21:59-71. Botchway, F.N. 2011, Natural Resource Investment and Africa's Development, Edward Elgar Publishing, Melbourne. Glasson J, Therivel R, & Chadwick, A 2005, Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment. 3rd ed. Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, London. Kakonge, J., 2013, Improving environmental impact assessments (EIA) Effectiveness: Some Reflections, Global Policy Journal. King, T. 2009, The Corruption of Cultural Resource Management and Environmental Impact Assessment and What to Do about It, Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group Kosamu IBM (2011). Environmental impact assessment application in infrastructural projects in Malawi, Sustain. Sci. 6(1):51–57. Petts, J. 2009, Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment: Volume 2: Impact and Limitations, John Wiley & Sons, London. Smith, LG 1984, Public participation in sustainable policy making, Geoforum 15 (2): 253-259. Read More