By Faridat Salifu
Nigeria’s fight against greenhouse gas emissions received a major boost today as a new technology-driven platform to detect and track methane leaks across the oil and gas industry was handed over to the Federal Government.
The platform, known as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Emission Tracker, NOGIET, was formally presented today, November 3, 2026, in Abuja to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, by the Stakeholder Democracy Network, SDN.
NOGIET combines satellite surveillance, facility information and verified emission data to improve regulatory oversight across upstream, midstream and downstream operations.
Speaking at the handover, SDN Board Chairman, Mr. Inemo Samiama, said the tool would enable regulators to compare satellite-detected methane plumes with measurements supplied by facility operators, thereby exposing discrepancies and tracing emissions to specific facilities and pipeline routes.
He explained that the initiative, supported by the Global Methane Hub, was developed to strengthen methane monitoring across Nigeria’s petroleum operations following a needs assessment conducted in 2025 and capacity-building training held in April 2026.
According to him, NOGIET will give both the NMDPRA and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, improved visibility over methane emissions, which are a major contributor to climate change.
Methane is over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term, and reducing its emissions is considered one of the fastest ways to slow global warming.
The regulator is expected to deploy the platform to identify emission hotspots, strengthen enforcement and ensure compliance by oil and gas companies.
The handover comes as Nigeria prepares for COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, next week, where methane reduction will be a key issue on the agenda.
