Urgent Call for Methane Abatement in Nigeria's Oil Sector

Civil society organizations and experts are advocating for accelerated action on methane abatement in Nigeria's oil and gas sector. During a regulatory dialogue organized by Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN) in Abuja, SDN Country Director Florence Ibok Abasi highlighted the importance of a harmonized regulatory approach to achieve meaningful climate outcomes.

Dr. Jude Samuelson, head of Environment and Climate Change at SDN, noted that methane reduction is one of the fastest strategies to combat climate change. However, he identified the high cost of methane abatement technology as a major constraint.

Odaf Ateb, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), emphasized that methane abatement is a cost-effective pathway for Nigeria to achieve its climate goals while ensuring energy security. Ibrahim Jilo from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) acknowledged progress but stressed the need for tailored approaches to ensure compliance across the evolving industry landscape.