Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process that plays an integrative role, combining the social, economic and biophysical systems into a holistic picture of the world with regard to a wide range of proposed public and private projects. How can this legal and national instrument (EIA) used by most countries to proactively anticipate the impacts of proposed developments and develop adequate corresponding mitigation measures be used in support of the implementation of the Nationally Determinized Contributions (NDCs)?
How can we achieve continued economic development while preserving the resource base that fuels the economy through the use of EIA as a tool to account and enhance natural capital? How can EIA be used as a tool that continually support the restoration and regenerative capacity of natural resources such that products that eventually manufactured, for instance, from the wide range of proposed public and private projects are kept at their highest value at all times in a circular/cyclical manner as desired in the Circular Economy?
These formed the subjects of a one-day Seminar for Staff of the Environmental Assessment Dept of the Federal Ministry of Environment on Feb 4, 2019, in Abuja, Nigeria. The seminar which was conducted Natural Eco Capital Team led by Dr Eugene Itua saw in the attendance 110 staff of the Department in two batches.
The seminar, with the title Integration of the Emergent Issues of Climate Change, Natural Capital and Circular Economy into the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process in Nigeria, showed how important climate change and natural capital with biodiversity and ecosystem issues as well as the circular economy are for specific project and EIA.
The general understanding at the conclusion of the seminar was that EIA stands as a veritable tool to successfully tackle sustainability challenges, drive innovation and stimulate economic growth and development in the long run with the integration of these emergent issues.
Mr John Adesanya Alonge, Director of Environmental Assessment Dept of Federal Ministry of Environment making the Opening Remarks and the need for the Seminar
Mr. Abbas Suleman, Deputy Director, Environmental Assessment Dept, making a contribution during the program
The First Batch of the Participants
The Second Batch of the Participants
Dr Eugene Itua of Natural Eco Capital looked on as Mr Abbas Suleman, Deputy Director, Environmental Assessment Dept, stresses a point during the program
Participants taking notes 
