States cautioned on EU projects

The directive to publicize the ESMF document which came through the National planning Commission (NPC) Abuja was issued at the recently concluded project management workshop organized by the World Bank for Core staff of the proposed SLOGOR project in the six benefiting states held between June 24th and 25th, 2013, in Abuja.Publication of the document […]

The directive to publicize the ESMF document which came through the National planning Commission (NPC) Abuja was issued at the recently concluded project management workshop organized by the World Bank for Core staff of the proposed SLOGOR project in the six benefiting states held between June 24th and 25th, 2013, in Abuja.
Publication of the document which started on July 29th 2013, with Radio announcements and other local media was expected to continue through the last five days of August, 2013, simultaneously across the six benefiting States of the project.
According to the directive contained in a memo signed by Mr. J.A Alonge, for the Minister of Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, the public disclosure of the ESMF document was in line with the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act, No. 86, of 1992, which makes EIA studies mandatory for all major development projects. The directive emphasized that it was also mandatory for the disclosure of the document in the local jurisdictions where the project would be implemented.
It further stated that the Hon. Minister has approved twenty-one (21) working days public displays exercise on the EIA report of the above project from July 29th to August 26th 2013. In compliance with this directive, copies of the document have been dispatched to all the affected state Ministries of Environment for display in strategic locations of their offices, between the hours of 8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. daily, within the stipulated period, calling for public comments from all the stakeholders concerned.
Details of the project description indicates that the proposed project was for review of Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) in the six benefiting states and would involve four components which include, Public Financial Management Reforms, Support to Local Governance, which were likely to be associated with renovations and rehabilitations of existing institutions that may impact on the environment, Project Coordination and Supervision of Trust Fund activities.
Meanwhile, a team of experts from the National Planning Commission, (NPC), were expected to arrive the state on Thursday August 14, 2013 for a two- day official visit for a validation exercise on the SLOGOR baseline survey. The meeting was expected to be attended by all relevant stakeholders of the proposed project, especially those who were involved in filling of the questionnaires, which kick-started the baseline studies early this year.