By Abbas Nazil
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has been identified as one of the largest sources of methane pollution in sub-Saharan Africa, raising urgent concerns about public health, environmental damage, and the country’s ability to meet climate commitments.
The issue was highlighted during a closed-door stakeholder dialogue and documentary screening held in Abuja, organized by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
Data presented at the event indicated that Nigeria accounted for approximately 16 percent of methane emissions recorded across sub-Saharan Africa between 2010 and 2020, signaling a disproportionately high contribution relative to other nations on the continent.
Participants were also informed that Nigeria flared more than five billion cubic feet of gas in 2023 alone, placing it among the top gas-flaring countries worldwide.
Methane, a greenhouse gas more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, has been identified as a major driver of climate change and poses severe environmental and health risks.
Testimonies from oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta described prolonged exposure to gas flaring and methane leaks as being linked to rising respiratory illnesses, degraded agricultural lands, and declining fish stocks, highlighting the human cost of persistent emissions.
Speaking at the forum, Ms. Tengi George-Ikoli, Nigeria Country Manager of NRGI, acknowledged that the Federal Government had made policy commitments and enacted regulatory reforms aimed at curbing methane emissions, particularly following the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021.
She, however, noted that weak enforcement and poor accountability had limited the effectiveness of these reforms, leaving communities still vulnerable to daily health and livelihood challenges caused by methane.
“What oil- and gas-producing communities are experiencing reflects a gap between policy ambition and outcomes on the ground,” George-Ikoli stated, emphasizing that Nigeria’s policy commitments have yet to translate into meaningful results for host communities.
Experts at the forum stressed that achieving the country’s methane reduction targets under its Nationally Determined Contributions requires consistent enforcement, effective implementation, and active engagement with affected communities.
Mr. Tijah Bolton, Executive Director of Policy Alert, warned that Nigeria’s continued prominence among leading gas-flaring nations could carry serious economic consequences, particularly as European Union regulations raise compliance standards for international market access.
Mr. Akintunde Babatunde, Executive Director of CJID, called for stronger oversight mechanisms, independent verification, and greater involvement of media and local communities to ensure compliance with methane regulations.
Despite the alarming figures, stakeholders expressed cautious optimism, noting that methane reduction is achievable and cost-effective, and that existing technologies can significantly curb emissions, often at little or no net cost when captured gas is put to productive use.
As Nigeria pursues gas expansion alongside its energy transition agenda, experts agreed that closing enforcement and accountability gaps is essential to protecting communities, rebuilding public trust, and meeting both national and international climate commitments.
The forum concluded that the country’s ability to address methane pollution will be critical not only for environmental sustainability but also for the long-term health, economic resilience, and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Effective mitigation will require coordinated government action, corporate responsibility, community engagement, and technological deployment to reduce methane emissions and safeguard vulnerable populations.
The dialogue underscored that immediate, practical, and enforceable measures could significantly reduce methane impact while supporting Nigeria’s broader climate and energy goals.