Zamfara AGILE Vows to Enforce Environmental, Social Management Plan

By Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Zamfara State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) in the construction of new learning spaces across the state.

The commitment was made during a two-day seminar organised by the Zamfara AGILE Project to sensitise site engineers, construction workers, supervision consultants and other relevant stakeholders on the implementation of the ESMP.

The seminar, held in preparation for the commencement of AGILE 1.2 construction projects, was aimed at ensuring that project sites and host communities are adequately protected from environmental and social risks associated with construction activities.

Declaring the seminar open at Taula Hotel, Gusau, on Thursday, the Deputy Project Coordinator of AGILE in Zamfara State, Dr Salisu Dalhatu, said bringing all stakeholders together was necessary to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of construction workers and members of host communities.

Dalhatu said effective implementation of the ESMP would help minimise potential risks and ensure that construction activities complied with established environmental and social safeguards.

Earlier, Malam Idris, who presented a paper at the seminar, stressed the need for strict compliance with the rules and safeguards of the World Bank, the project’s sponsor.

He identified potential risks associated with construction activities to include environmental pollution, community health and safety concerns, occupational hazards, poor waste management and disruption of school and community activities.

He said addressing such risks through site-specific mitigation measures was critical to reducing adverse impacts and ensuring the sustainability of the projects.

According to him, the ESMP provides a comprehensive framework for identifying key environmental and social risks and outlining appropriate mitigation measures.

He added that the plan would serve as a technical guide for managing risks throughout the various stages of the construction projects.

Also speaking at the seminar, Dr Amina M. Hassan highlighted the importance of protecting children in communities benefiting from the AGILE projects, particularly against child labour and exploitation.

Hassan stressed that children must not be engaged in construction activities that could endanger their health, education or wellbeing.

“Children are legally protected from employment in work or activities that are harmful to their health, education or wellbeing,” she said.

She added that the relevant safeguards prohibit forcing children into labour or exposing them to hazardous tasks.

Hassan further emphasised the need for community-based child protection structures at the ward level to monitor, report and help prevent cases of child labour and exploitation.

The seminar brought together key stakeholders involved in the implementation and supervision of the AGILE 1.2 construction projects, with emphasis on environmental protection, occupational safety, community health and child protection.