Objective:
The fundamental goals of the assignment were to identify and assess potential environmental and social impacts of the proposed project; identify all potential significant adverse environmental and social impacts of the proposed project and recommend mitigation measures; verification of compliance with the environmental regulations and industry's standards; Generate baseline data for monitoring and evaluation of how well the mitigation measures will be implemented during the project life cycle; Recommendation of cost effective measures to be implemented to mitigate against expected impacts; prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment report compliant with the Environmental management and Coordination Act (1999) and detailing findings and recommendations; provision of guidelines to stakeholders participating in the mitigation of adverse social impacts of the project; and the verification of the adherence and compliance of the African Development Bank's Safeguard policies.

Executive Summary:
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in her quest to improve electricity supply through the expansion of infrastructure intends to use a part of the credit sought from African Development Bank (AFDB) for investments and capacity improvements as well as research development needs. In order to ensure the sustainability of the whole electricity industry, TCN will carry out the construction of additional transmission lines, at the same time rehabilitate, and upgrade some of the existing ones in some identified areas for anticipated improvement in transmission. This intervention will cover construction of 330KV and 132KV transmission lines as well as 330/132KV and 132/33KV Transmission Substations.

The proposed construction is 205 km, 330KV SC to DC Quad conductors Transmission lines from Mando in Kaduna to Rimin Zakara in Kano. The Installations have associated accessories at Mando and Rimin Zakara and construction of Turn-in/Turn-out and Tee-offs on the existing 330KV SC Kaduna-Kano Transmission line at the proposed 330/132KV substation in Zaria, Millennium City and 132/33kV substations at Jaji and Rigasa. These were identified amongst others as projects to be implemented under the AfDB project for the Nigeria Transmission Expansion Programme (NTEP). It is aimed at bridging the gap in the demand for electricity required on the huge activities in the concerned States and provide the much-needed revenue for Government and employment for the youths.

Key environmental and social (E&S) risks associated with the above activities off-site are construction traffic, noise, dust, work-place hazards and involuntary resettlement arising from the relocation of persons living or farming along the Right of Way (ROW) of the proposed transmission lines. The Environmental and Social risks associated with the construction works are largely confined to the RoW of the transmission lines to be constructed and could be adequately mitigated through the application of the Best Available Technology (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP). The social risks associated with the preparation of the ROW of the lines will be effectively mitigated by the implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), which will prescribe a systematic process for settlement of all resettlement claims.

See also:
     Development of Spatial Database for Leemp Communities in Niger State (2008)