We Suspended Work On 2nd Niger Bridge — Minister

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, admitted yesterday that

the Federal Government erred in commencing work on the construction of the

Second Niger Bridge without consideration for the Environmental Impact

Assessment Law, EIA.

Government,according to her, failed to comply with the requirements of the

EIA law in embarking on the project.

The ministry has consequently stopped work on the project.

The minister told a Turkish delegation during a courtesy call on her that the

bridge construction had to be suspended because “ they did not comply with

our ministry’s rule.”

“The Minister of works had to run to me so that we might give them

certificate to resume work,”Mrs Mallam said.

The Director, Environmental Impact Assessment Director, Mr. Kehinde

Odusanya, who was with the minister, said in response to a question that:

“Because of the national interest in that particular project, the Federal Ministry

of Works had to request for an interim approval just to commence preparation

activities.”

The Environmental Impact Assessment is a formal process used to predict the

environmental consequences (positive or negative) of a plan, policy,

programme, or project prior to implementation.

It proposes measures to adjust impacts to acceptable levels or to investigate

new technological solution.

Although the EIA law can lead to difficult economic decisions, strong political

and social commitments, it protects environment with sound basis for

effective and sustainable development.