Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant Environmental Impact ... - IFC

Petty Trading
According to FGDs some of the community residents in the study area engage
in petty trading. These ‘middle-men’ purchase farm produce locally and
transport it to towns where they make a profit on the goods sold. Many also
sell goods obtained from the towns to the communities, also with a mark-up.
There are no markets in the three communities. Residents tend to take their
products to Ehor town, the LGA headquarters, on market days. Trading
activities might be more significant within the Project area if not for poor
roads which limit transportation. Nevertheless, stakeholders report that
increased local income has benefitted local trading activities.
5.5.2 Formal Employment
There is minimal information available regarding formal employment in the
study area. Based on observations and FGDs however, it can be assumed that
the NIPP power plant is one of few formal employers (if not the only one) in
the study area.
The NIPP power plant will require at least 40 employees during the
operational phase, however, it is unclear to what extent these will be local
employees or otherwise.
5.5.3 Income Levels and Poverty
During the data collection process, participants generally evaluated their
socio-economic status as “poor” or “average”. Stakeholders felt that poverty
levels have increased over time, citing contributing factors such as reduction
in farmland and shortage of formal employment opportunities. The residents
of Orior-Osemwende and Idunmwowina-Urho-Nisen also complained that
they had not been properly compensated for lands (belonging to their
communities) which were acquired by the NIPP power plant.
The cost of living in these communities is low, compared with nearby towns;
however, it varies considerably according to seasons. During the rainy season
the cost of food tends to increase due to flooding on the roads and the
increased cost of transporting food to markets (NIPP, 2010).
5.6 USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
5.6.1 Land Tenure and Ownership
The 2006 census of Edo State found that 52 percent of households in the state
owned their own homes, while 36 percent rented their homes (Nigerian
Census, 2006). Across the state, private land ownership is most common in
urban areas, where ownership is transferred through title deeds.
In rural areas, the majority of land still remains under traditional land tenure,
administered through the traditional power structure. As such, all land
AZURA EDO IPP
5-22
DRAFT EIA REPORT