AEIAN Warns Rivers State Governor’s 50.15Km Ring Road Project Poses Threat to Environmental Sustainability
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The Association for Environmental Impact Assessment of Nigeria (AEIAN) has raised concerns over the proposed 50.15Km dual carriage Ring Road Project by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, stating that it could undermine environmental sustainability within the state. Prof Ijeoma Vincent-Akpu, President of AEIAN, voiced these apprehensions during a media briefing on Friday.
The ambitious Ring Road project is set to span six Local Government Areas, incorporating six flyovers and a river crossing bridge, with an estimated completion timeline of 36 months. However, Vincent-Akpu warned that this undertaking could lead to severe consequences, including the loss of biodiversity and erosion of socio-cultural heritage within Rivers state communities.
Governor Fubara had championed the project, touting it as the most substantial single initiative ever undertaken by any Nigerian state. Vincent-Akpu acknowledged the potential socio-economic benefits but stressed that the project’s environmental impact should not be underestimated.
Roads work in Rivers State
AEIAN’s concerns centered around the adverse effects on biodiversity, indigenous communities, and cultural heritage. Vincent-Akpu emphasized that the project could potentially violate the sustainability standards set by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and even impede progress on some of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Discussing the threat to biodiversity, Vincent-Akpu noted that land use change, driven primarily by human activities, remains the biggest and most direct danger. She urged the importance of considering comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for major development projects, citing the unfortunate loss of unique biodiversity, like the Niger Delta Red Colobus, during the construction of the Bayelsa Airport.
Vincent-Akpu emphasized that EIA processes are crucial tools for ensuring sustainable development. By identifying and assessing both positive and negative impacts, EIA allows for mitigation strategies that protect the environment and enhance the well-being of communities.
AEIAN stressed that EIA should have been carried out before the final decision on the Ring Road project was made. They suggested that input from the EIA process should have been taken into account during the engineering and route selection phases. While acknowledging that the project is not funded by the World Bank, AEIAN proposed adhering to the Environmental and Social Performance Standards of the IFC as guidance for managing the project’s associated impacts more sustainably.
Vincent-Akpu urged the River State Government to consider commissioning the EIA process immediately, not just for compensation purposes, but as a proactive step towards a more sustainable development approach. She emphasized that EIA should be mandatory for all major public and private projects in Nigeria and called for its implementation by qualified professionals.
