The Lagos State Government has reiterated that obtaining Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval is mandatory for all project developments across the state before construction begins.
Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, made this known at a Stakeholders’ Engagement Workshop on Environmental Impact Assessment for practitioners in the real estate sector and project developers.
Rotimi-Akodu stressed that developers must subject projects, including buildings with five floors or more, estates with eight apartment units or above, shopping malls, filling stations, industrial facilities, sand mining projects, dredging, and land reclamation, to the EIA process before commencement.
He warned that the government would not hesitate to enforce compliance in the interest of public safety and sustainable development.
“EIA is a critical environmental management tool that must be embraced by both private and public stakeholders to achieve sustainable development,” he said.
Rotimi-Akodu attributed Lagos’ status as Nigeria’s preferred business destination to its large population, enabling environment, modern infrastructure, and sound policies.
He noted, however, that unregulated developments could result in significant adverse impacts, including air, land, and water pollution, and sometimes irreversible environmental degradation.
He said the workshop was designed to bridge knowledge gaps on EIA, bring together industry professionals, and promote its integration into public and private projects across the state.
Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Tajudeen Gaji, described the forum as timely, warning that unchecked development could further strain Lagos’ fragile ecosystem.
“EIA is a critical safeguard instrument that identifies likely impacts — both adverse and beneficial — from a proposed project and proposes measures to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate negative impacts,” he said.
Director of Environmental Assessment Department, Dr. Olasunkanmi Sojinu, explained that the EIA process is backed by the EIA Act CAP E12 LFN 2004 and the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017, making it compulsory for major developments.
He added that the process involves stakeholder participation, including host communities and the general public, and must be proportional to the size and potential impact of the project.
