The Federal Ministry of Environment on
Thursday, June 29, 2017 in Abuja handed the conditionally-approved EIA report
(along with the conditions) to the Deputy Governor of Cross River State,
Professor Ivara Esu. which the state government threw a party and
celebrated the document making everybody to believe that the EIA report had
been finally approved. But what Ayade and his cohort did not tell Cross
Riverians was that the Federal ministry of environment handed over a
conditional approval to the State Government.
Recall that Ayade had
initially refused to carry out a Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) on the project which would have enabled the state government to ascertain
the level of impact the project would have on the affected communities.
The EIA approval that was
given to then deputy governor by the Federal Ministry of Environment has about
23 conditions which the state government must meet before full and complete
approval can be given for work to commence on the site. Some of these
conditions must be met with a space of two weeks.
It is based on these over 20 conditions and
the time frame given to the state government that TDN wonders if Ayade’s super
Highway will eventually see the light of the day.
While handing over the document to Pof. Ivara
Esus, the Environment
Minister of State, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, said that all conditions must be met
before a final approval is given to the EIA report to signal commencement of
work. He added that there would be a review within the next two or three weeks.
According to Environews.com, “Ayade has been
given approval to go ahead with the super highway, “but the route may now be
jettisoned for another, going by fresh conditions given by the federal
government to the state government.”
one of the 23 conditions to be met by Cross
River before the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is
approved and work can fully commence on site, the CRSG is to ensure that the
updated maps in the new EIA must show that the “re-routed road corridor
cognisance of the boundary of Cross River National Park and Ekuri Community
Forest as well as conform to international best practices on setbacks for
highways in critical ecosystems such as the proposed corridor.” In other words,
state authorities were told that the road should neither cut through Ekuri nor
the CRNP.”
Also Read: 23 conditions for Super Highway EIA to be approvedhttps://thedailynewsng.blogspot.com/2017/07/super-highway-eai-aproval-super-story.html
Ukorebi Esien
Blogs and Edits
for TDN
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