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| Gas flaring |
In the shadow of every roaring flare in the Niger Delta lies a story of daily hardship. Families like Mrs Ngozi’s in Ogbele fall asleep under a sky lit by flaming towers, while their children cough through the night. Fishermen such as Mr Emeka watch fish vanish from poisoned creeks, and farmers see precious crops wilt under acid rain. This is Nigeria’s human cost of gas flaring—an environmental emergency with faces, names and aching lungs.
The Scale of Gas Flaring and Air Pollution
Nigeria routinely burns off associated gas during oil extraction, releasing volatile organic compounds, soot, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. In 2020 alone, operators flared 354 billion cubic feet of gas—enough to light millions of homes—that carried a market value of USD 1.24 billion, lost forever to the flames. Over 170 flare sites dot riverine communities, some less than four kilometres from homes. “Communities don’t know the difference between day and night because they go to bed with active gas flare sites,” notes energy consultant Luqman Agboola.
Health and Ecosystem Impacts
The toxic plume from flares settles as particulate matter that penetrates deep into lungs, triggering asthma, chronic bronchitis and cardiovascular disease. Dr Adogbeji Ideh of the Nigerian Medical Association warns of rising upper respiratory infections and cancers among Niger Delta residents forced to breathe flared gas day after day. Acid rain from sulphur oxides corrodes roofs, acidifies soil and decimates fish stocks, undercutting food security and livelihoods.
Gas Flaring’s Contribution to Climate Risk
Beyond local harm, flared gas accelerates global warming. From 2010 to 2019, Nigeria wasted 114 Billion Cubic Meters of gas—13 per cent of its total output—emitting millions of tonnes of CO₂ that could have helped power the industry instead of heating the planet. At current rates, Nigeria remains among the world’s top seven flaring nations, undermining its Paris Agreement commitment to eliminate routine flaring by 2030.
Remedies: Capturing and Commercialising Flared Gas
Technical solutions exist to turn waste into wealth:
- Flare Gas Commercialisation: The Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme auctions flare sites to investors who capture gas for power, CNG or industrial use, converting pollution into profit.
- Re-injection and Micro-Turbines: Small-scale gas turbines and re-injection systems can generate electricity on-site, cutting flares and grid-deficit alike.
- Pipelines and LNG: Expanding domestic gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals capture volumes that would otherwise be burned.
- Clean Cooking Fuels: Subsidised LPG and biogas cookstoves reduce reliance on kerosene and fuelwood, curbing indoor air pollution alongside flaring.
Strengthening Government Policies
Nigeria has a toolbox of laws and targets, but needs firmer enforcement:
- Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021: Mandates metering of all flared and vented gas, with fines for non-compliance and requirements for flare-elimination plans.
- National Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP 2022): Relaunched by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to end routine flaring by 2030 and unlock investments under transparent, competitive auctions.
- Upstream Decarbonisation Framework: Overseen by NUPRC, this strategy aims to cut methane emissions by 60 per cent by 2031 and integrate carbon capture and climate finance into oil and gas operations.
- Air Quality Standards: Adopting WHO guidelines and empowering NESREA to monitor and penalise industrial emitters will help align national policy with public health goals.
From Policy to Practice: Community Engagement and Accountability
Real change hinges on inclusive dialogue:
- Local Monitoring: Community-led air quality monitoring empowers residents to document flaring violations and demand redress.
- Health Screening: Mobile clinics in flaring hotspots can track pollution-related illnesses and guide targeted interventions.
- Transparent Fines and Reinvestment: Revenue from flaring penalties should fund renewables, healthcare and education in host communities.
Lighting a Way Forward
Gas flaring is not an inevitable by-product of oil wealth but a choice. By capturing stranded gas, enforcing the PIA and NGFCP, and placing communities at the heart of solutions, Nigeria can turn its flare fields from symbols of neglect into engines of clean growth. In doing so, it safeguards lives, restores ecosystems and honours its climate pledges—ensuring that the next generation inherits a sky free from flame-lit nights and a nation powered by its own cleaner energy.
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