Worried by the fact that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act does not cater for human rights, social rights and health issues, the coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has moved to intensify advocacy on Environmental Social Human Rights Impact Assessment (ESHRIA) Bill so as to accelerate its passage into Act.
This was the resolution of CSOs at the Government/CSOs/Communities/Companies interface session on the implementation and management plans of ESHRIA organized by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).
They also called for the sensitization of the populace and relevant stakeholders on the importance of the bill which takes into account the paradigm shift to right-based approach to development.
Delivering a lecture titled “Implementation And Management Plans For ESHRIA: Emerging Issues ” Mr Kolawole Banwo noted that Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA) is the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development, as well as a means to identify the most environmental and practicable option that helps to avoid and minimize potentially damaging and costly negative impacts.
He further stressed the need to ensure that programs embarked upon by companies do not cause more harm than good for the people, regretting that lack of participation which usually leaves the communities out of the process has been the challenge in handling EIA.
On his part, the Chairman of the CSOs coalition on Ogoni clean- up, Mr Young Kigbara, while supporting the repeal of the existing EIA Act noted in dismay that the Act did not take care of the rights of vulnerable people and those living with disabilities.
He identified the unyielding attitude of lawmakers at the National Assembly and their inability to promptly respond to issues that border on the environment as a great challenge to the passage of ESHRIA Bill.
