Africa Regional Coordinator, Citizen Climate International, Dr Michael David, has asked leaders at all levels of government to recognise that economic growth should not thrive on environmental degradation or social displacement.

According to him, development should be guided by policies that promote sustainability, protect vulnerable communities and enhance public health.

David made the remarks, yesterday, while reacting to the passage of the Environmental, Social and Health lmpact Assessment Bill (ESHIA), which has just scaled through first reading at the House of Representatives.

He expressed optimism that the bill, when enacted, would serve as a legal framework to ensure that all projects undergo thorough assessments before execution to mitigate risks and maximise benefits.

“The ESHIA Bill has passed first reading on the floor of House of Reps, all thanks to the House Committee Chair and Deputy Chair, Julius Pondi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State; and TerseerUgbor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Benue State, for co-sponsoring the bill,” he said.

The introduction of the bill, according to him, represents a significant step toward ensuring that development in our nation is sustainable, inclusive, and responsible.

He emphasised that by integrating environmental protection, social equity and public health considerations into decision-making, the ESHIA Bill aimed to safeguard both people and nature from the adverse effects of unchecked development.

The latest bill will repeal the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act and enact the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) Act. This is the first review of the EIA Act since 1992, bringing it up to date with current realities.