Ayodele Olalere
The Lagos State Government has assured stakeholders such as landowners that government would pay compensation on any property affected by the construction of proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge.
At a Panel Review Meeting on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the project held on Wednesday in Lagos by Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye allayed fears that government will not pay compensation and gave assurance that adequate payment of compensation is in line with international best practice.
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Adeyoye who was represented by the Project Director, Engr. Tokunbo Ajanaku said the panel review for the ESIA report on the Lagos fourth mainland bridge project is the final review before the project is approved at ESIA level.
She said the project, which passes through Lagos and Ogun states, is a Lagos State initiative, adding the issue of compensation is a composite plan to make everybody happy.’
Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdulahi, who was represented by Engineer Gomwalk Celestine noted that in spite of the benefits associated with the proposed project, there are significant negative social, economic, health and environmental consequences including resettlement issues for numerous Project Affected Persons (PAPs).
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He, however, said it is the responsibility of the federal government in collaboration with other tiers of government and relevant regulatory authorities to ensure that these negative impacts are adequately identified and effectively mitigated while the attendant positive impacts are realised for project and environmental sustainability.
He emphasised that the primary objective of EIA is to ensure adequate protection of the biophysical and socio-economic environment as well as project sustainability.
