By Agih, Timothy Shaibu
This study analysed the level to which development projects in Kogi State comply with
environmental impact assessment policy. To achieve its aim, the study examines the current
practice of EIA in Kogi State, identifies the level of compliance of development project with EIA,
analysed the reasons for the level of compliance, and suggest strategies for effective
implementation of EIA in Kogi State. Field work was conducted between April 24th and
September 26th, 2012. During the field work, we observrd that major development projects and
industries were found to concentrate more in six local government areas of the state. These local
governments are Ajaokuta, Ankpa Dekina, Kabba/Bunu, Lokoja and Ofu which later become the
study area. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from the public, staff of the
regulating agencies and staff of companies and project proponents. The three categories of
respondents have seperate questionnaire. Oral interview was conducted across the state to generate
handy information. Existing EIA reports were analysed to ascertain their worth. Statistical
packages for social sciences (SPSS) version 19 was used to analyse the data. The programme
extracted the rated values for each of the variables and transform them to Mean which was further
used in the analysis of variance, correlation and Principal Component Analysis.The results indicate
low level of awareness of EIA and low level of compliance with EIA in the state. The PCA result
identifies four major components responsible for the low level of compliance with EIA in the
state. These includes, Poor concern for EIA provisions, Poor stakeholders engagement in EIA
process, cost of EIA permit and lack of accessibility to qualified EIA consultants. Other reasons
discovered to impede EIA compliance in the state include multiple EIA regulators, inadequate
baseline data, lack of enforcement policy and others. The study recommends that awareness
campaign on EIA should be given priority in the state. The state edict and the national guidelines
should be in harmony and there should be an agency vested with the responsibility of enforcing
EIA policy in the state.