Minister of Works David Umahi has explained that there will be no single Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) covering the entire 750-kilometre stretch of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Umahi said the environmental assessment process would be handled in stages as construction progresses, rather than issuing one comprehensive certificate for the entire route from the outset.
According to the minister, environmental and social considerations are assessed at different stages of the project, with decisions made based on the level of work completed. The final ESIA certificate can then be issued after the required stages of assessment have been addressed.
Environmental and Social Impact Assessments are designed to identify potential effects of construction projects on communities, livelihoods and the natural environment while recommending measures to minimise negative impacts.
The clarification comes amid ongoing discussions about environmental compliance, project execution and the management of major highway developments in Nigeria.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a major federal infrastructure project designed to connect communities across Nigeria’s southern coastline.