Advocacy Groups Call for Stronger Legislation to Mitigate Methane Emissions in Nigeria’s Oil Sector

Experts from numerous civil society organizations in Nigeria and across Africa have advocated for strengthened laws and stricter enforcement measures to tackle significant methane emissions in the country’s oil and gas sector. This plea comes in light of increasing health and environmental apprehensions faced by communities in the Niger Delta.

The appeal was articulated on Thursday during an intimate stakeholder discussion and a screening of a documentary organized by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) alongside the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in Abuja.

At this gathering, participants expressed concerns about the persistent methane emissions from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector posing a credible risk to public health, economic livelihoods, and ecological sustainability. This situation is deemed largely attributed to weak enforcement mechanisms and lack of accountability, despite existing governmental pledges.

The featured documentary, titled “The Human Cost of Methane Emissions in Nigeria’s Niger Delta,” provided a glimpse into the living conditions of oil- producing communities in Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states.

Revealed during the discussion, the documentary illustrates the struggles of local residents who face issues such as gas flaring and oil spills, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced monitoring, enforcement, and accountability throughout the sector.

Community members in the film described surging incidences of respiratory diseases, deteriorated farmland quality, and declining fish populations—conditions they link directly to long-term exposure to gas flaring and methane leaks.

Methane, a colorless and odorless gas, primarily constitutes natural gas, which is utilized for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It also acts as a highly effective greenhouse gas, being over 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide in retaining heat.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that methane escapes in Nigeria’s oil and gas sectors, chiefly through intentional venting, inefficient flaring, and leaks stemming from outdated infrastructure.

In a report from 2023, the IEA highlighted that venting and fugitive emissions were substantial contributors to Nigeria's elevated methane intensity in upstream operations, which reportedly stands at about double the global average for the industry.

As part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Nigeria has vowed to reduce methane emissions. Measures include implementing new regulations for methane emissions across upstream, midstream, and downstream activities following the Petroleum Industry Act’s enactment in 2021.

According to the IEA, Nigeria has significant potential to curtail methane emissions. It was suggested that approximately 67% of Nigeria’s methane emissions could have been circumvented at no net expense through the sale of captured gas. This insight has underscored governmental targets to halt routine gas flaring by 2030 and cut fugitive methane emissions by 60% by the year 2031.

During the event, Tengi George-Ikoli, the Nigeria Country Manager for NRGI, acknowledged that while the government has made important strides to mitigate methane emissions, enforcement measures remain largely ineffective.

"What oil and gas-producing communities are experiencing reflects a gap between policy ambition and actual outcomes on the ground," she remarked.

George-Ikoli added, "Although the government has made significant commitments, the daily realities faced by many communities reveal that methane emissions continue to be a pressing health and livelihood issue."

The urgency of the matter is magnified by statistics indicating that Nigeria accounted for approximately 16% of sub-Saharan Africa's total methane emissions between 2010 and 2020 and flared over five billion cubic feet of gas in 2023, positioning the country among the leading nations globally in gas flaring.

Tijah Bolton, Executive Director of Policy Alert, commented, "Nigeria has made significant commitments regarding methane; however, without transparency and robust enforcement, these promises will yield no tangible results. Failure to act not only jeopardizes community well-being but also poses a risk to Nigeria’s economic future, especially as new EU methane regulations increase market access challenges. It's imperative that accountability from both regulators and oil firms is enforced."

The organizers expressed optimism that reducing methane emissions is feasible and cost-efficient, noting that viable technologies are already available to dramatically decrease emissions, often at minimal or no net cost through captured gas utilization.

Akintunde Babatunde, Executive Director of CJID, reinforced the importance of strengthening monitoring frameworks, ensuring independent verification, and involving media communities in oversight for future progress.

Felicia Dairo, NAREP/Climate Change Project Manager at CJID, pointed out that significant gaps persist between Nigeria’s climate commitments and on-ground realities.

"Weak monitoring, limited transparency, and inadequate community involvement continue to hinder progress. This marginalizes communities most affected by methane emissions, leaving them unheard in pivotal decision-making processes impacting their lives," she remarked.

Dairo concluded, "The conversations occurring today extend beyond mere emissions reduction—they encompass issues of accountability, equity, and justice. It is vital to intertwine human narratives with scientific insights, enhance the media's role in responsible reporting, and ensure that policies reflect the voices and necessities of those enduring environmental damages."

She called upon the government to ensure that efforts aimed at curbing methane emissions are not only environmentally sound but also centered on people’s welfare.