Stakeholders have reiterated their call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Environmental, Social, and Health Impact Assessment Bill.
They made the call at the #DrawTheLine Day of Global Climate Action, a day for climate justice in Abuja on Sunday.
Michael David, the executive director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, stated that the bill is a crucial step in protecting both people and the planet.
The bill, he said, broadens the focus beyond just environmental impacts to include social and health considerations.
”It mandates the comprehensive assessment of all projects with significant risks to the environment and human well-being. The climate clock indicates that we are less than three years into the irreversible damage of climate change to the planet if urgent action is not taken.
“We are drawing the line against the use of public funds to support destructive industries that fuel floods, fires, heat waves, hunger, and poverty. Instead, we demand that public money be invested in building a safer, fairer, and more sustainable future for all Nigerians.
“As climate impacts escalate, we urgently call for climate finance, especially increased support for adaptation financing to protect vulnerable communities. So today we join voices with millions around the world for the Draw the Line, a day of global climate action. A united stand against climate injustice, against poverty, against environmental destruction,” Mr David said.
He urged the government to uphold territories of indigenous peoples and traditional communities across Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, and to also support climate-led solutions.
He restated that Africa requires an estimated $53 billion annually to build resilient infrastructure, support smallholder farmers, and achieve food sovereignty.
John Makina, the country director of Oxfam, said the organisation is backing the campaign to ”see how lines can be drawn globally”.
Mr Makina said the organisation was raising silent issues concerning the climate, most especially in vulnerable African countries.
Mr Makina said Oxfam was also supporting the campaign with capacity training, campaign, and every resource needed to draw attention.
Francisca Edeh, project coordinator for Oxfam Youth Ambassadors, stated that young people play a vital role in climate justice and urged policymakers to include youth in all decision-making forums on climate justice.
The ESHIA Bill, 2025, is designed to replace the Environmental Impact Assessment Act of 2004. The new bill aims to establish a more comprehensive framework for assessing the environmental, social, and health impacts of projects in Nigeria, incorporating enhanced community participation and strengthened enforcement measures.
The bill, which incorporates international best practices to align Nigeria’s environmental governance with global sustainability goals, was only passed in its first reading in March. The primary objective is to prevent harm to host communities, ecosystems, and public health by integrating assessment into project planning and approval processes.
It aims to ensure that development in Nigeria aligns with sustainability principles, climate resilience, and human rights.
(NAN)
