River Niger: Stakeholders approve EIA for proposed Agenebode jetty

Stakeholders have approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed jetty to be constructed on the River Niger at Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government of Edo State. 

The stakeholders gave the approval recently during the Technical Review meeting of the EIA  for the project at Auchi, Etsako West Local Government of the state. 

The Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, lauded the management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for what he described as sustainable EIA for the project.

Represented by a director in the ministry, Celestine Gomwalk, an engineer, he said the project would boost socio-economic development of the area and the nation by providing employment opportunities and stimulating other sectors of the economy. He, however noted that no matter how significant and laudable a  project may be, its environment, social and health implications may be quite glaring if the EIA was not done properly. 

Earlier, the chairman of the technical panel, Dr. O. Ameyan, said the project may look small, but in terms of classification in the field of environment it was big. The technical meeting, he said, has power as a high court in Nigeria, because it can summon anybody to give evidence which can be used in the court of law.