The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has called on the Federal Government to enhance public involvement in environmental permit regulations, advocating for greater participation in decision-making processes, conditions, and approvals.
Andrea Lamas, UNEP’s Legal Adviser, made this appeal during a validation workshop in Abuja for the review of the National Environmental Permitting and Licensing Systems Regulations 2009. Lamas emphasized that integrating public participation into the environmental permitting process is crucial.
“A key point I want to highlight is the necessity of involving the public throughout the environmental permitting process,” Lamas said. “This involves detailing the types and timing of public participation in the legislation and ensuring that the outcomes of such participation are considered by the competent authorities.”
Lamas stressed that public involvement is essential due to the potential environmental and social impacts of industrial activities on local communities. She underscored the importance of allowing affected individuals, communities, and civil society groups the opportunity to take legal action in cases of violations of environmental permit conditions.
Dr. Innocent Barikor, Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), concurred with the importance of public involvement in the new regulations. However, he emphasized that specific templates must be incorporated to ensure effective participation.
“We agree on the need to involve the public in our regulations to create more robust and sustainable frameworks that do not require frequent revisions,” Barikor stated. “It is essential to include not just internal stakeholders but also experts and other relevant parties to ensure that the regulations have a broad impact and reflect diverse viewpoints.”
Barikor also highlighted the importance of collaborating with various stakeholders, including those in the regulated sector and other industry players whose activities affect the environment. Their input has been instrumental in refining and improving the regulations to ensure they are both effective and practical.
He noted that while the regulations are flexible enough to accommodate various permits, they must adhere to specific standards and guidelines.
