Nigeria leads Africa in methane pollution - Report
By Folarin Kehinde, Abuja
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has emerged as one of the largest contributors to methane pollution in sub-Saharan Africa, raising fresh concerns over public health, environmental sustainability and the country’s climate commitments.
This was disclosed at a closed-door stakeholder dialogue and documentary screening in Abuja, organised by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) in collaboration with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
Data presented at the forum showed that Nigeria accounted for about 16 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s methane emissions between 2010 and 2020.
The country also flared more than five billion cubic feet of gas in 2023 alone, placing it among the world’s leading gas-flaring nations.
Methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas, is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period and is a major driver of climate change.
In oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta, residents said prolonged exposure to gas flaring and methane leaks has worsened respiratory illnesses, degraded farmlands and reduced fish stocks.
Speaking at the event, Nigeria Country Manager of NRGI, Ms. Tengi George-Ikoli, acknowledged that the Federal Government has made policy commitments and introduced regulatory reforms to address methane emissions, particularly following the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021.
However, she noted that weak enforcement and poor accountability have limited the impact of these reforms in host communities.
“What oil- and gas-producing communities are experiencing reflects a gap between policy ambition and outcomes on the ground. Despite Nigeria’s commitments, methane remains a daily health and livelihood challenge,” George-Ikoli said.
She added that Nigeria has pledged to cut methane emissions under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and has introduced upstream, midstream and downstream methane regulations.
Experts at the forum stressed that the effectiveness of these measures would depend largely on enforcement, implementation and collaboration with host communities.
Executive Director of Policy Alert, Mr. Tijah Bolton, warned that Nigeria’s status as one of the world’s top gas-flaring countries could have economic implications.
“Nigeria has made important commitments on methane, but without transparency and enforcement, those promises will not deliver results,” Bolton said.
He added that continued inaction could threaten community health and livelihoods and undermine Nigeria’s economic future, especially as new European Union methane regulations raise the bar for market access.
Similarly, Executive Director of CJID, Mr. Akintunde Babatunde, emphasised the need for stronger oversight.
“Strengthening monitoring systems, ensuring independent verification, and involving the media and host communities in oversight will be critical going forward,” he said.
Despite the grim statistics, stakeholders expressed optimism that methane reduction is achievable and cost-effective, noting that existing technologies can significantly cut emissions, often at little or no net cost when captured gas is utilised.
As Nigeria advances its gas expansion plans and energy transition agenda, experts agreed that closing enforcement and accountability gaps will be crucial to reducing emissions, protecting communities and restoring public trust.
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