The Environmental Impact of the Alaoji-Onitsha Transmission Line Project and Resettlement Action Plan

Abstract

Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) is a pivotal part of managing resettlement-related activities, so as to avert dispute and agitation that might emanate in anticipation to disruption to means of livelihood by impacted persons. This study aimed to ascertain the environmental implications of Alaoji-Onitsha Transmission Line (TL) in the context of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Project Affected Persons (PAPs). The study adopted standard methodology for physical environment and biodiversity assessment. The finding on the severity of the impact on the physical environment revealed that air quality, soil and geology have minor residual impacts, noise level and surface and groundwater have negligible residual impact. The impact significance on land use was found to be high, with medium residual impact. Although the findings suggest that the project does not have dire consequence on the environment, the resettlement should be carried out in a way that will guarantee continuous survival of PAPs and utmost care be taken to ensure sustainable development.