Environmental Impact Assessment Policy and Industrial Development Planning in Ogun State’s Industrial Clusters, South West Nigeria

This study investigates the application of environmental impact assessment policy in the planning and approval of industrial development projects within Ogun State's major industrial clusters, South West Nigeria. Ogun State, as Nigeria's most industrialised state outside Lagos, hosts numerous manufacturing estates and free trade zone facilities whose environmental footprints have generated growing concern from regulators and host communities. Grounded in environmental governance theory and recent industrial ecology literature from 2019 to 2024, the study employs a professional practitioner research design. Data are gathered from environmental assessment consultants, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency officials, Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency officers, and industrial zone managers through structured questionnaires and policy document review across three industrial clusters. Descriptive statistics and content analysis are applied. The study expects to find that while statutory environmental impact assessments are submitted as required, their quality is inconsistent, post-approval environmental management plans are rarely monitored, and public participation requirements in the assessment process are frequently circumvented. Strategic environmental assessment for industrial zoning decisions is also critically examined. Recommendations will address strengthening the review rigour of submitted assessments, mandatory post-project auditing, independent environmental monitoring panels, and integrating strategic environmental assessment into industrial zone master planning in Ogun State. Keywords: environmental impact assessment, industrial development, environmental governance, Ogun State, NESREA