Integrating community perceptions and cultural diversity in social impact assessment in Nigeria |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, 410001 Nsukka, Nigeria;2. Demography and Population Studies Programme, The University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa;3. Department of Archaeology and Tourism, University of Nigeria, 410001 Nsukka, Nigeria;4. Department of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria;1. Appraisal Center for Environment and Engineering, MEP, China;2. Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences, China;3. Tianjin Environmental Monitoring Center, China;4. School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom;5. Research center for Strategic Environmental Assessment, Nankai University, China;1. Departamento de Sociología 1, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante 03080, Spain;2. Centro de Ciências Exatas, UEL, Rodovia Celso Cid, Km 380, Campus Universitário, Londrina, PR 86057-970, Brazil;1. School of Economics, Business Administration & Legal Studies, International Hellenic University,14th km Thessaloniki - N. Moudania, 57001 Thermi, Greece;2. Institute for Bio-Economy and Agri-Technology, Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece;3. Department of Economics, University of Macedonia, University of Macedonia, 156 Egnatia Street, 546 36 Thessaloniki, Greece;1. CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Research Group on Strategic Approaches to Environment and Sustainability (SENSU), 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal;2. Centro de Estudios del Desarrollo, San Crescente 551, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile;1. Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment, PO Box 2345; 3500 GH, Utrecht, The Netherlands;2. Environmental Governance, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;3. Environmental Governance, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;4. Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands |
| |
| Abstract: | The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act of 1992 aimed to make the environment a central theme in development in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the extent of engagement with local cultures in the Nigerian EIA process is not statutorily guaranteed. While most EIAs in Nigeria have been for oil and gas projects in the Niger Delta, and have focused strongly on the biophysical environment, socio-economic and cultural aspects have remained marginal. The palpable neglect of community perceptions and cultural diversity in social impact assessment (SIA) in this region prone to conflict has tended to alienate the people in the decision-making process. Thus, despite claims to compliance with regulatory requirements for EIAs, and numerous purported sustainable development initiatives by international oil companies (IOCs), the region continues to face multiple sustainability challenges. This paper situates local perceptions and cultural diversity in participatory development and canvasses the integration of community perceptions and cultural diversity into SIA in the Niger Delta region. It is argued that doing this would be critical to ensuring acceptance and success of development actions within the context of local culture while also contributing to sustainable development policy in the region. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
