The General Manager of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), Arc. Hart Bankat, has clarified that the board does not issue Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificates, but only requires them as part of the conditions for building plan approval.
Bankat made this known during a meeting with officials from the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) at his office on Ibrahim Dasuki Street, Jos.
He explained that the EIA certificate is necessary to assess how a proposed building project might impact the environment, which helps the board determine whether such projects should be approved or not.
“It is not a statutory function of JMDB to issue EIA certificates,” he said, “but it is a legal requirement for building plans to include them. Our role is to ensure compliance.”
The General Manager urged NESREA to carry out more public awareness campaigns to improve compliance with EIA regulations among developers and project owners.
Bankat stressed that JMDB remains committed to working with NESREA, adding, “Governance is about collaboration and not competition. We are open to partnership in any area of concern.”
Earlier, Nathaniel Godwin, Assistant Director at NESREA, who represented the state coordinator, stated that the agency is responsible for protecting and improving Nigeria’s environment and wants to work closely with JMDB to fulfill that mandate.
Godwin praised the efforts of Arc. Bankat and his team in improving urban development in Jos and Bukuru, assuring that NESREA is ready to support the board in creating a cleaner and healthier environment.
