CSOs Demand Stricter Methane Emissions Enforcement in Niger Delta

Civil society organizations (CSOs) are calling for stricter enforcement of Nigeria's methane emissions regulations in the Niger Delta, warning that weak implementation of existing laws exposes oil-producing communities to serious environmental, health, and economic risks. This call was made during a webinar organized by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), which aimed to raise awareness about the socio-economic consequences of methane emissions from gas flaring.

Tengi Georg Ikoli from NRGI stressed the importance of accurate measurement and consistent enforcement of regulations, noting that while Nigeria has made progress with methane regulations, the real test lies in their implementation. Ahmad Abdulsamad from NRGI highlighted the challenges of ensuring environmental sustainability while pursuing economic strategies.

Tijah Bolton Akpan from Policy Alert described gas flaring as a long-standing environmental injustice affecting the region. CSOs urged oil and gas companies to take concrete steps to reduce emissions and called for the acceleration of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialization Programme (NGFCP) to ensure captured gas is utilized rather than flared.