The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) through the Federal Ministry of works (FMW)
requested the World Bank?s support towards the Federal Roads Development Project
(FRDP). The purpose is to meet the immediate and short term funding needs for the federal
road network and to support Government?s efforts with policy and institutional reforms
promoting improved service delivery, road management and financing.
The Roads Sector Development Team (RSDT), who is saddled with the responsibility of
implementing FRDP in collaboration with Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), is
proposing to upgrade the 18km Okpala - Igirita in Imo State from its present earth form to a Paved
Asphalt road as is being considered an important link road to other parts of the state and the country in
general especially in areas of transportation of agricultural commodities which are abound in the area to
ease the difficulty being faced by road users.
Objectives of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
The objectives of the EMP study for the project are to:
? identify the possible negative environmental and social impacts of the project as presently
planned for implementation; and
? propose measures required to mitigate these potential negative impacts.
? Assess alternatives to the proposed rehabilitation project
Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework
The constitutional framework for environmental management is highly centralised with the Federal
and State governments primarily responsible for developing and applying the legislative framework,
including the provision of supervisory and regulatory functions. The EMP is carried out within the
legal framework of both local and international environmental guidelines and regulations.
Project Description
The project is specifically the road rehabilitation of 18km Okpala - Igirita section of the highway
located in Imo State, South – East Nigeria which links Owerri – Aba road with Owerri – Elele road.
The activities involved in the project comprise site clearing, raising of the low lying areas of the road
with lateritic material, construction of concrete lined drains, arresting the washout areas and placing
stone pitching. Others are placing of slabs on concrete lined drains, provision of lateritic sub base,
crushed rock stone base construction of box culverts, surface dressing of shoulders, prime coat,
asphalt concrete laying, removal of debris.
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Project Alternatives
Approach to the selection of best project implementation and design alternatives will take into
consideration the one that suits the purpose best. Potential alternatives considered include; Taking no
action or no project option, Using alternative travel modes, Improving the existing facilities and
alternative alignments construction of a multi-lane, controlled access facility on new location.
Baseline Data Acquisition
The study methodology adopted to obtain basic information of the environment was by the ad hoc
methodology of specialists in aspects of the environment. This was carried out between 2
nd April &
11
th April, 2010. Samples that needed to be taken to the laboratory for further analysis were taken
from the field and transported to the lab under the strictest quality control regime.
Potential & Associated Impacts:
Varieties of methodologies exist for environmental impact assessment. The project despite been
small in magnitude and scope, is expected to generate the following impacts:
? Site Clearing & Earthworks: at this stage of the project, impacts that are expected to arise
include; Air Quality impairment through dust generation during scarification, Biodiversity
loss through clearing of adjoining road side vegetation, changes in river hydrology and
damage to aesthetics through burrow pit excavation for fill material.
? Culverts and Drains demolishing/ construction activities will lead to generation of noise
from machinery operations, impact on air quality from dust and fumes generation by heavy
duty machines/ equipment, traffic obstruction and increased risk of accident.
? Pavement & Surfacing activities would lead to impact on surface water through run off of
washed areas/ asphalt into the neigbouring water body, noise generation during surface
dressing and air/ gaseous emissions.
? Socio-economic impacts that may arise include displacement of small road side businesses
which have in most cases encroach into the main road corridor. There may all be impact on
crops due to vehicles manoeuvring during site preparation and surfacing activities. There
would also be loss of farmland due to burrow pit acquisition. The project may in addition lead
to Social & health problems (new communicable diseases, sexually transmitted infections
(STIs), HIV/AIDS) from influx of job seekers.