Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has accused the Anambra State Government of failing to comply with mandatory environmental regulations in the construction of its proposed second airport at Ndikelionwu in Orumba North Local Government Area, alleging that the project is being executed without the transparency required by law.
Odinkalu made the allegation in a statement titled “Anambra’s Secret Second Airport and Failure of ESIA Compliance,” which he published on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday.
In the statement, the former NHRC chairman questioned the state’s compliance with Nigeria’s environmental laws, insisting that there was no publicly available evidence that the government had conducted the legally required Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) before commencing work on the airport project.
According to him, despite repeated public requests for information, the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo has neither published nor disclosed any Environmental and Social Impact Assessment report relating to the proposed airport.
Odinkalu argued that the failure to provide such documentation raises serious legal, environmental and governance concerns, particularly given the scale of the project and the fragile ecological nature of Anambra State.
He explained that Nigeria’s Environmental Impact Assessment Act, enacted in 1992, makes it compulsory for major public infrastructure projects to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment before construction begins.
According to him, the law requires that the assessment process be transparent, consultative and open to public participation, ensuring that communities likely to be affected by such projects have the opportunity to understand their environmental implications.
Odinkalu noted that global best practices have since expanded the traditional Environmental Impact Assessment framework into the more comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), which considers not only environmental consequences but also the social and economic effects of major development projects.
He stressed that airport construction falls squarely within the category of projects that require mandatory ESIA compliance.
“Nigeria’s Environmental Impact Assessment Act has been in existence since 1992,” Odinkalu stated.
“It mandates a public and consultative Environmental Impact Assessment report for all major public works projects. The EIA process culminates in a remediation plan that should form part of the overall project design.
“Today, international best practice requires an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment process and report. An airport is undoubtedly one of the categories of projects for which ESIA compliance is mandatory.”
The senior lawyer maintained that the Anambra State Government has repeatedly ignored calls to disclose evidence that such statutory procedures were followed before work commenced on the airport project.
“Despite repeated demands, Anambra State has failed or neglected to disclose any information on ESIA compliance in respect of the ongoing second airport project in Ndikelionwu, Orumba North Local Government Area,” he said.
Odinkalu further criticised government officials for allegedly responding to public concerns with what he described as defensive rhetoric rather than addressing the substantive legal issues surrounding the project.
According to him, government spokespersons have sought to justify the airport project by describing it as part of a broader “Aerotropolis” development without explaining how that relieves the government of its statutory obligations under environmental laws.
He argued that invoking the concept of an aerotropolis does not exempt the state from complying with established legal procedures.
Instead, he said, the ambitious nature of such a development makes strict adherence to environmental and social safeguards even more necessary.
“The response of government spokespersons has been to treat legitimate inquiries as attacks and simply repeat that they are building an ‘Aerotropolis,’ as though that somehow excuses non-compliance with the law,” he said.
“In reality, describing the project as an aerotropolis only makes the obligation to conduct and publish an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment even more compelling.”
Odinkalu also suggested that many of those promoting the project may not fully understand the concept they are advancing.
According to him, the use of sophisticated terminology appears designed to divert attention from legitimate public concerns.
“The resort to big words to confuse ordinary people is an old trick,” he stated.
“Few people in the state know what an aerotropolis means or have any reason to be impressed by the terminology.
“Indeed, the way government officials invoke the concept suggests that the idea remains, at best, an undigested novelty to them.”
Drawing comparisons with established aerotropolis developments around the world, Odinkalu said such projects are long-term investments that typically span several administrations and require careful planning, extensive consultation and institutional continuity.
He cited examples including Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands, Incheon International Airport and the Songdo International Business District in South Korea, as well as the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan airport system in the United States.
According to him, these globally recognised airport cities evolved over many years through sustained investment, comprehensive planning and strict regulatory compliance.
“It is evident from these examples that an aerotropolis is an inter-generational project,” he said.
“It is not something that can be completed by one administration, especially one approaching the end of its constitutionally limited tenure.
“That reality alone should compel maximum transparency, public accountability and strict fidelity to statutory Environmental and Social Impact Assessment requirements.”
He argued that the secrecy surrounding the proposed airport could ultimately undermine the project’s long-term viability.
“The lack of openness surrounding the project is self-defeating,” he added.
Odinkalu further warned that environmental compliance is especially important because of Anambra State’s delicate ecological conditions.
He described the state’s environment as highly vulnerable and cautioned that major infrastructure projects undertaken without proper environmental safeguards could have lasting consequences for surrounding communities.
According to him, environmental degradation resulting from poor planning would disproportionately affect rural residents long after the current administration leaves office.
“Anambra State sits on an intense and intensely fragile ecology,” he observed.
“That places an even greater burden on government to comply fully with Environmental and Social Impact Assessment requirements.”
He warned that failure to comply with the law could eventually transform the airport project into another abandoned public investment.
“Failure of compliance risks condemning the project to the growing list of abandoned white elephant projects once the administration that initiated it has left office,” he said.
“For projects of this magnitude, the absence of a proper ESIA always carries serious consequences, and it is usually the local people—particularly the poor—who bear those consequences long after the political actors responsible have departed.”
Odinkalu concluded by urging the Anambra State Government to embrace transparency by publishing all relevant environmental assessment documents and demonstrating full compliance with statutory environmental requirements.
He maintained that openness, public participation and strict adherence to environmental laws remain essential for ensuring that major infrastructure projects achieve sustainable development objectives while protecting communities and preserving the environment for future generations.
