Nigeria has in a bid to eliminate gas flaring by 2030, reaffirmed its commitment to combatting methane emissions, underscoring the nation’s pivotal role in global environmental stewardship. The multi-stakeholder dialogue organised by Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, CJID, themed, ‘strengthening methane emission reduction strategies in Nigeria’s gas expansion plans’ on Tuesday in Abuja, highlighted Nigeria’s proactive stance in tackling methane emissions associated with its expanding gas sector. Government officials and industry experts convened to discuss strategies aimed at reducing Nigeria’s methane footprint, crucial for aligning with international climate goals. Speaking at the event, Senior Officer Nigeria Program, Natural Resource Governance Institute, Tengi George-Ikoli said, Nigeria, with the world’s ninth-largest gas reserves, is a major methane emitter, accounting for 16 percent of sub-Saharan African methane emissions from 2010 to 2020.
She said, immediate action is needed to prevent increasing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, as the Federal Government aims to expand domestic gas use and exports. “Nigeria needs a robust methane emissions framework to address technical and regulatory gaps across the oil and gas value chain. Frameworks should deliver tailored monitoring reporting and verification (MRV) systems that combine satellite and leak detection and repair (LDAR)technologies, create synergy among stakeholders, and incentivise methane emissions reduction. Oil and gas companies, including Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), must prioritize investments in methane emissions reduction technologies, reflect global environmental commitments in local operations, and participate in independent data disclosure initiatives, such as the new Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (EITI) requirements for greenhouse gas emissions and the Nigeria EITI (NEITI) audit process.” Tengi said .
In his remarks, Executive Secretary Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, said effective mitigation measures are not only environmentally responsible but also economically beneficial for all stakeholders. He said the reduction of emissions enables oil and gas companies to improve operational efficiency, minimise revenue losses from gas flaring, and enhance their competitiveness in the global market; which results in increased government revenue and a more attractive investment climate for Nigeria, contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and international climate commitments. In his words, Director of Programs, CJID, Akintunde Babatunde said, the dialogue is a testament to the collaborative spirit required to address challenges of methane emissions, which are 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period, and must be rigorously managed through regulatory reforms and energy-efficient technologies. Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas and a significant component (70-90 percent) of gas. Processes such as flaring, fugitive emissions, and venting contribute to the release of methane across the oil and gas value chain. Flaring involves the controlled burning of natural gas that cannot be captured or used, converting methane into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour—both of which have lower global warming potentials than methane.
