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

determined in discussion with the EPC contractor but will likely include
accommodation, cooking and sanitary facilities for construction workers,
laydown areas and vehicle parking areas. The construction camp will be
fenced and access will be controlled and restricted to employees. Policies for
the management of this camp and the construction workforce are yet to be
developed.
The Project is expected to impact the demographic profile of the area in the
following ways:
• Population increase due to influx of opportunistic job seekers and
construction workforce;
• Change to gender balance, due to significant numbers of male workers;
• Change in age profile of the area with larger numbers of young people;
• Increased social tensions from the temporary presence of young male job
seekers and workers; and
• Change to the ethnic structure of the region, caused by the influx of foreign
workforce.
Impact Significance
The extent of impacts to demographics will largely be contained within the
Project-affected communities, and will therefore be local in scale. The
duration of impacts associated with the construction phase will be largely
short-term, lasting only as long as construction continues. In some cases,
impacts will be of shorter duration, particularly if opportunistic job seekers
who are unable to secure work leave the area. The probability of impacts,
however, is highly likely, based on past experience in the region and current
conditions. The overall impact magnitude is considered to be moderate.
The communities of Orior-Osemwende, Ihovbor-Evboeka and Idunmwowina-
Urho-Nisen are fairly small (with Idunmwowina-Urho-Nisen observed to
have the largest population) and ethnically homogenous, which means that
even small numbers of newcomers, particularly foreigners, will be keenly felt.
However, this will be balanced by the fact that the communities live on the
outskirts of Benin City (and next to the neighbouring NIPP plant) and so will
be used to outsiders.
It is also important to take into consideration the existing tensions within the
communities over management of the compensation from the neighbouring
NIPP project and potential expectations regarding employment opportunities.
Adding large numbers of young males, arriving in the communities in search
of job opportunities, could exacerbate these tensions. The increase of young
men in the communities may also affect other social groups, such as women.
The sensitivity of the receptor is considered to be moderate.
Despite the short term and localised nature of these impacts, the scale of influx
and sensitivity of the affected communities increases the significance rating
AZURA EDO IPP
7-57
DRAFT EIA REPORT