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

households who are resident on the plot of land to be acquired will be affected
by the resettlement, along with 600 incomplete and unoccupied houses. A
number of cultural and religious sites are also located within the land to be
acquired. Physical resettlement for the Project is expected to result in four key
impacts:
• Loss of physical assets;
• Loss of cultural sites;
• Loss of land; and
• Loss of productive agricultural land.
A RAP for the Project is being developed that will confirm the number of
affected households and their losses. It will also assess potential relocation
sites and the impact of resettlement on host communities.
Resettlement for the proposed Project will take place several years after a land
acquisition process which was carried out for the neighbouring NIPP Project,
also on land belonging to the same three communities. This resettlement
process was carried out by the Nigerian Federal Government, and resulted in
as-yet unresolved grievances between the communities (and between the
communities and the Federal Government), over compensation for lost assets,
distribution of community investment and other project benefits. As a result,
notwithstanding that this Project is led by a private sector developer, there is
concern in the local community with regard to the compensation and
resettlement that will be associated with the Azura-Edo IPP. Furthermore Edo
State will be responsible for compensation of the communities inline with
Nigerian legislation. Azura Power will ensure that compensation is provided
in accordance with World Bank standards.
Impact Significance
The extent of the physical resettlement impact will regional, affecting the three
communities of Orior-Osemwende, Ihovbor-Evboeka and Idunmwowina-
Urho-Nisen and the new areas where people will settle, with direct and
indirect implications. The duration of resettlement impacts will be
permanent, beginning in pre-construction and continuing beyond the life of
the Project.
Residents of these communities are heavily reliant on agriculture for their
livelihoods, and their lack of skills means that their ability to find alternative
employment is low. As such, Project activities that affect access to agricultural
land or the viability of remaining land mean that relocated stakeholders will
be less able to adapt to changes without considerable on-going support. The
sensitivity of receptors is considered to be high.
Based on the context of high expectations, and suspicion, combined with the
extent and duration of impacts and sensitivity of the affected population, the
significance of impacts associated with physical resettlement before mitigation
are considered to be negative and major.
AZURA EDO IPP
7-53
DRAFT EIA REPORT