The Federal and Lagos State governments have stated this, just as its said a lot of efforts had been made to reduce the number of affected structures from about 9,000 to less than 800.

The state government, however, promised adequate compensation to the owners of the affected property, adding that all stakeholders would be satisfactorily considered in the execution of the project.

The Environment Minister, Mamoud Abubakar, who was represented by a director in the ministry, James Kolawole, disclosed this at the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Stakeholders’ scoping workshop with the Federal Ministry of Environment in Lagos.

He said there should be sincere commitment on the part of Lagos State government on the compensation for owners of affected properties.

The minister explained that though the project would have about 16 alignments, but the best had been selected.

“There was an alignment that will affect about 9,000 structures along the corridor, but we have reviewed it and gone for the alignment that will affect about 795 houses, instead of the one that will take more houses. It is an ongoing thing on how best to minimise the negative impact,” he said.

The State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development said the bridge, which will connect Lagos and Ogun states, will pass through Abraham Adesanya in Lagos and Sparklight Estate near the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.

A town planner in the ministry, Mr. Abayomi Omolola Amos said the alignment of the project had been carefully designed to reduce the number of houses that should be demolished.

The Federal Government said the proposed bridge will boost economic growth and enhance international trade.

Abubakar said the Lagos State government had been working on the project for about four years and had made several representations to the Federal Government.

The minister, whom spoke through Kolawole, said the project would enhance commerce and international trade to improve the people’s livelihoods.

He congratulated the state government on the laudable project, while stressing the need to take cognisance of both positive and negative impacts of the project on stakeholders.

According to him, doing this will ensure all issues are addressed to avoid compromising the comfort of future generations.

“For us as a ministry, we are happy with the positive impact, but there is need to resolve the negative aspects: what we need is sustainable development,” he said.

She explained that climate change results in excessive heat, drought, rising sea level and unhealthy climate conditions.

Ikeazor spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on the sidelines of a Climate Change Conference in Lagos State, organised by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) with the theme “New Deal for Nature and People, Nigerian Businesses for Nature.”

According to her, the enforcement of extant environmental laws by states will go a long way in arresting bush burning.

The minister told NAN that, “The practice of bush burning by way of making room for crop planting or for any other purpose is unhealthy and a threat to the environment.

“We need to adopt better scientific methods in conducting our domestic and commercial activities with recourse to sustainable environment.

“The bush burning act is not in any way beneficial to the ecosystems rather it diminishes the soil nutrients and causes harm to the ozone layer by depleting it and exposing life to direct rays of sun.

“There are already existing laws in the states to correct this;  what is needed is for those regulations to be put to use by way of enforcement.

“A person might carry out the act of bush burning but the consequence is universal and it affects those that are not involved in the act, the crusade against climate change is for everyone,” she said.

She expressed regrets that such practices were still going on in Nigeria and advised those involved to stop and cultivate the new world order of “green ecosystem.”