Professional Environmental Due Diligence in Real Estate Development Projects in Abuja

This study examines the professional practice of environmental due diligence in real estate development projects in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, evaluating the quality of environmental assessments conducted before land acquisition and development commences and assessing their adequacy for identifying and managing environmental risks. Real estate development in Abuja involves large capital investments on land with varied historical uses, and environmental liabilities including contaminated land, proximity to sensitive ecosystems, and unrecorded infrastructure can create significant financial and legal risks for developers who fail to conduct adequate pre-acquisition assessment. The study draws on a review of Environmental Impact Assessment documents and environmental and social impact studies for twenty real estate projects approved in Abuja between 2019 and 2023, supplemented by interviews with twelve environmental consultants practising in the sector and five NESREA assessment officers. Review criteria assess the scope of historical land use investigation, the adequacy of ground investigation methodology, the completeness of risk assessment, and the quality of proposed mitigation measures. Results show that the majority of assessed EIA documents contain inadequate historical land use research, relying primarily on desktop searches without field enquiry or archival review. Intrusive soil investigation is included in fewer than 30 percent of assessed projects. Risk assessment methodology is poorly defined in most documents. Environmental consultants attribute quality gaps to compressed project timelines and client cost pressure rather than capability deficiencies. Recommendations include mandatory minimum Phase I and Phase II standards for real estate EIA practice in Abuja and a professional register for environmental impact assessment consultants. Keywords: environmental due diligence, real estate development, Abuja, EIA quality, contaminated land.