Renewables
Nigeria urged to reform environmental assessment framework
Civil society groups and government officials have called for an overhaul of Nigeria's environmental impact assessment laws to support a just energy transition.
Key points
- Stakeholders warn against repeating Niger Delta environmental failures in emerging energy sectors.
- Experts recommend updating the 1992 Environmental Impact Assessment Act to cover new technologies.
- Participants demand greater community participation, transparency and post-approval monitoring.
What happened
A coalition of 25 organisations has urged the federal government to overhaul the national environmental assessment framework. The recommendation emerged from a two-day policy lab in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, convened by the CLEEN Foundation with backing from the Heinrich Boll Stiftung.
Participants cautioned that expanding renewable energy, green hydrogen, battery storage and critical mineral extraction must not replicate the ecological degradation and social conflict witnessed in the Niger Delta.
Why it matters
According to Dr Salaudeen Hashim, programme director at the CLEEN Foundation, the country currently relies on an environmental assessment law enacted in 1992. He noted that the existing legislation fails to address modern climate challenges, cumulative impacts, biodiversity loss and emerging technologies.
The discussions highlighted that weak oversight and limited community involvement have historically undermined environmental governance. Experts argued that project approvals must transition into comprehensive life-cycle governance that includes continuous monitoring, compliance enforcement and accessible grievance mechanisms.
What comes next
The communiqué issued at the event calls on the National Assembly, regulators and industry operators to modernise the legal framework. Recommendations include publishing environmental reports on digital platforms, strengthening community development agreements and ensuring vulnerable groups are involved in project assessments.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
6.2% of electricity in Niger was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
