By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Stakeholders have warned that methane emissions in the oil and gas sector is exacerbating climate change.
They made the observation at a dialogue organized by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) on Tuesday in Abuja.
The dialogue was themed “Strengthening Methane Emissions Reduction Strategies in Nigeria’s Gas Expansion Plans.”
The discussions therefore stressed urgent action to reduce methane emissions in the country in order to enhance environmental sustainability.
Senior Officer, Nigeria Program, NRGI, Tengi George-Ikoli, Senior Officer, NRGI, said that unchecked oil and gas sector methane emissions continue to undermine Nigeria’s capacity to trade in the global market and leverage the proceeds to sustain its economy.
“Nigeria, with the world’s ninth-largest gas reserves, is a major methane emitter, accounting for 16 per cent of sub-Saharan African methane emissions from 2010 to 2020,’’ she said.
In his paper, Executive Secretary Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji said that the government must ensure robust frameworks and policies that held oil and gas companies accountable, while civil society organisations must continue to monitor and advocate for environmental sustainability.
“We all need to recognise the urgency of addressing methane emissions within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“Nigerian communities will also benefit from cleaner air and improved health outcomes; to achieve this audacious emission reduction goal, collaboration is crucial.
“As Nigeria expands her gas use, so does the potential for increase in methane emissions, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon.’’
Orji warned such expansion of use of gas posed a challenge for Nigeria in meeting its global and national commitments to reducing methane emissions.
“Effective mitigation measures are not only environmentally responsible but also economically beneficial for all stakeholders.’’
Orji said there was need to reduce methane emissions in Nigeria to align with international best practices and standards.
“These guidelines provide a robust framework for companies to measure, report, and reduce their emissions, ensuring they meet the highest levels of environmental performance,” he said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Akintunde Babatunde, Director of Programmes, CJID, said that Nigeria’s commitment to a just energy transition was unwavering.
“Our Nationally Determined Contribution, the 2050 Long-Term Vision for Nigeria and the Energy Transition Plan all articulate clear pathways for transitioning from a fossil fuel-driven economy to a low-carbon one.
“These plans are not merely aspirations but concrete steps toward achieving a sustainable future for our nation,” Babatunde said.
