Environmental Impact Assessment is not done in secret. It is not a matter of a document that the Ministry of Environment has issued. It must involve the public. The report must be published and tabled before the public so that concerned people may make objections to it. Thereafter, a Council is set up to consider the objections. It is only if the Council gives the all-clear that the project can commence. There is nothing like interim approval for the project to commence pending final approval. Whatever document that the Govt has cooked up cannot amount to an EIA and cannot give them the authority to commence the project so long as objections have not been taken and determined.
Nigerians must reignite their faith in the courts. There is no alternative to judicial resolution of issues of abuse of power. The courts are very likely to arrest this waste of material and natural resources that is called the coastal super highway until the Environmental Impact Assessment Act has been fully complied with. The EIA report is what will answer the question whether this road could not constructed without such colossal loss of natural beaches, resorts and jobs.
I still ask, what is this thing about calling spraying Naira an abuse of the national currency. I insist that it is an advertisement of the premium placed on it. In the Bible, it is written that the streets of the New Jerusalem are paved with gold. We shall be stepping on gold in the New Jerusalem because that is what God considers worthy for our feet. Nothing less is worthy. Yes, it shows that we are more than gold. It shows that we are better than the best. What is wrong with rating the Naira the best and showing that we are better than the best by spraying the Naira on ourselves? What is wrong with our national psyche? Why do we misplace our displeasure? I still ask, which shows a better respect for the Naira, to spray the Dollar at a party or to spray the Naira? Should we spend Dollar or Naira?
Published by Chuks Nwachuku
