PROMOTING AND STRENGHTENING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN NIGERIAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS: COMPARING THE USA, CHINA AND NIGERIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT LAWS

Abstract

The Environmental Impact Assessment process in itself is a new discovery the world over and same came about following growing concerns over the adverse effects of development on the environment. There is a general consensus that the public especially experts be allowed to make inputs in the Environmental Impact Assessment process; however the degree of such input varies from country to country. It is necessary therefore not only to understand the role of the public participation in the Environmental Impact Assessment process especially after considering public participation as enshrined in the United States of America, the Peoples Republic of China and Nigeria Environmental Impact Assessment laws but also make suggestions as to ways by which public participation in the Environmental Impact Assessment process can be promoted and strengthened. The result of this research shows that the United States of America being a developed country has a more standard law as per public participation in the Environmental Impact Assessment process while China and Nigeria are still developing theirs.