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Title: Integrating community perceptions and cultural diversity in social impact assessment in Nigeria

Abstract

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act of 1992 aimed to make the environment a central theme in development in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the extent of engagement with local cultures in the Nigerian EIA process is not statutorily guaranteed. While most EIAs in Nigeria have been for oil and gas projects in the Niger Delta, and have focused strongly on the biophysical environment, socio-economic and cultural aspects have remained marginal. The palpable neglect of community perceptions and cultural diversity in social impact assessment (SIA) in this region prone to conflict has tended to alienate the people in the decision-making process. Thus, despite claims to compliance with regulatory requirements for EIAs, and numerous purported sustainable development initiatives by international oil companies (IOCs), the region continues to face multiple sustainability challenges. This paper situates local perceptions and cultural diversity in participatory development and canvasses the integration of community perceptions and cultural diversity into SIA in the Niger Delta region. It is argued that doing this would be critical to ensuring acceptance and success of development actions within the context of local culture while also contributing to sustainable development policy in the region. - Highlights: • Nigeria EIA Act aimed to make the environment centralmore » to development in Nigeria. • Engagement with local communities in the process is not statutorily guaranteed. • SIAs in Nigeria neglect community perceptions and cultural diversity. • Article canvasses integrating community perceptions and cultural diversity in SIA. • Local acceptance in context of culture would yield sustainable development outcomes.« less

Authors:
 [1]; ;  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Demography and Population Studies Programme, The University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg (South Africa)
  2. Department of Archaeology and Tourism, University of Nigeria, 410001 Nsukka (Nigeria)
  3. Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, 410001 Nsukka (Nigeria)
  4. Department of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (Nigeria)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22479763
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Impact Assessment Review
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 55; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0195-9255
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; COMMUNITIES; COMPLIANCE; DECISION MAKING; ENVIRONMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS; ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; NIGERIA; SOCIAL IMPACT; SUSTAINABILITY; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Citation Formats

Nzeadibe, Thaddeus Chidi, E-mail: chidi.nzeadibe@unn.edu.ng, Ajaero, Chukwuedozie Kelechukwu, Okonkwo, Emeka Emmanuel, Okpoko, Patrick Uche, Akukwe, Thecla Iheoma, and Njoku-Tony, Roseline Feechi. Integrating community perceptions and cultural diversity in social impact assessment in Nigeria. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/J.EIAR.2015.07.005.
Nzeadibe, Thaddeus Chidi, E-mail: chidi.nzeadibe@unn.edu.ng, Ajaero, Chukwuedozie Kelechukwu, Okonkwo, Emeka Emmanuel, Okpoko, Patrick Uche, Akukwe, Thecla Iheoma, & Njoku-Tony, Roseline Feechi. Integrating community perceptions and cultural diversity in social impact assessment in Nigeria. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EIAR.2015.07.005
Nzeadibe, Thaddeus Chidi, E-mail: chidi.nzeadibe@unn.edu.ng, Ajaero, Chukwuedozie Kelechukwu, Okonkwo, Emeka Emmanuel, Okpoko, Patrick Uche, Akukwe, Thecla Iheoma, and Njoku-Tony, Roseline Feechi. 2015. "Integrating community perceptions and cultural diversity in social impact assessment in Nigeria". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EIAR.2015.07.005.
@article{osti_22479763,
title = {Integrating community perceptions and cultural diversity in social impact assessment in Nigeria},
author = {Nzeadibe, Thaddeus Chidi, E-mail: chidi.nzeadibe@unn.edu.ng and Ajaero, Chukwuedozie Kelechukwu and Okonkwo, Emeka Emmanuel and Okpoko, Patrick Uche and Akukwe, Thecla Iheoma and Njoku-Tony, Roseline Feechi},
abstractNote = {The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act of 1992 aimed to make the environment a central theme in development in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the extent of engagement with local cultures in the Nigerian EIA process is not statutorily guaranteed. While most EIAs in Nigeria have been for oil and gas projects in the Niger Delta, and have focused strongly on the biophysical environment, socio-economic and cultural aspects have remained marginal. The palpable neglect of community perceptions and cultural diversity in social impact assessment (SIA) in this region prone to conflict has tended to alienate the people in the decision-making process. Thus, despite claims to compliance with regulatory requirements for EIAs, and numerous purported sustainable development initiatives by international oil companies (IOCs), the region continues to face multiple sustainability challenges. This paper situates local perceptions and cultural diversity in participatory development and canvasses the integration of community perceptions and cultural diversity into SIA in the Niger Delta region. It is argued that doing this would be critical to ensuring acceptance and success of development actions within the context of local culture while also contributing to sustainable development policy in the region. - Highlights: • Nigeria EIA Act aimed to make the environment central to development in Nigeria. • Engagement with local communities in the process is not statutorily guaranteed. • SIAs in Nigeria neglect community perceptions and cultural diversity. • Article canvasses integrating community perceptions and cultural diversity in SIA. • Local acceptance in context of culture would yield sustainable development outcomes.},
doi = {10.1016/J.EIAR.2015.07.005},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22479763}, journal = {Environmental Impact Assessment Review},
issn = {0195-9255},
number = ,
volume = 55,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}