By Fabian Ekeruche
Lagos, Dec. 16, 2025 (NAN) — In a nation balancing rapid development with profound ecological and social challenges, the role of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has never been more critical. Professor Ijeoma Vincent-Akpu, an authoritative voice in the field, asserts that a robust and effective EIA process is not a bureaucratic hurdle, but the very cornerstone of sustainable development, environmental protection, and accountable governance in Nigeria.
Vincent-Akpu, the immediate past President of the Association for Environmental Impact Assessment of Nigeria (AEIAN), shared these insights in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Her reflections came shortly after she received the AEIAN’s Distinguished Service Award, honouring her significant contributions to the association’s growth and institutional strengthening. She described the recognition as both “humbling and encouraging,” a testament to the collective effort required to advance the profession. “I believe AEIAN is in a better place and will continue to go from strength to strength,” she stated, expressing confidence in the association’s future trajectory.
At the heart of her discourse was a call for a fundamental shift in perception and practice. Vincent-Akpu stressed the urgent need for stronger, more substantive collaboration between government agencies and professional bodies like AEIAN. “Sustainability and environmental protection are not abstract ideals; they are concrete outcomes anchored on proper, effective impact assessments,” she explained. “Governments must collaborate with professionals because sustainability, good governance and environmental protection are anchored on proper EIA.”
She acknowledged ongoing governmental efforts to strengthen frameworks, including collaborations with international institutions like the World Bank on procurement reforms and specialized EIA training programmes. While optimistic that these initiatives would raise standards over time, Vincent-Akpu did not shy away from highlighting systemic failures. She pointed to the recurring controversies surrounding major infrastructure projects, where citizens are left questioning whether rigorous needs assessments and EIAs were ever conducted before approvals were granted.
“A pervasive problem is that EIA is often treated merely as a bureaucratic box-ticking exercise, a means to an end for obtaining permits or securing funding,” she lamented. “In reality, a well-executed EIA is a strategic planning tool. It guides proper project design from the outset, identifying potential risks, optimizing resource use, and proposing mitigation measures. This benefits the project proponent, the government, and the environment equally.”
The professor attributed the prevalence of poor-quality EIAs to a chronic reluctance—from both public and private sector proponents—to commit the necessary financial and intellectual resources. “Unfortunately, even governments sometimes find it difficult to invest in proper EIAs. This short-termism, this impunity, is visibly etched into our degraded environment,” she observed. She noted that while public advocacy can sometimes force last-minute adjustments, these are often costly and inefficient compared to integrating environmental considerations at the conceptual design phase.
Addressing engineers and contractors directly, Vincent-Akpu urged a paradigm shift: “EIA does not stop development; it ensures development benefits the people, protects the environment, and safeguards our collective future.” She outlined the tangible business case for robust EIAs, explaining how they help developers avoid costly delays, legal penalties, community conflicts, and redesigns. “Proper EIAs help developers reduce long-term costs, avoid penalties, and improve project design. It is a tool that protects the environment, the developer, and the government. Everyone benefits.”
Ultimately, Vincent-Akpu framed the EIA process as the operational mechanism for achieving true sustainability, which she defined as the simultaneous and balanced pursuit of environmental, social, and economic goals. “If one pillar is pursued at the expense of the others, everyone loses in the long run,” she concluded. “But when all three are integrated through diligent assessment and planning, society reaps enduring benefits. The EIA is the blueprint that makes this integration possible.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
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