Nigeria may face serious environmental and economic losses from the push by the Federal Government to expand domestic gas utilisation unless framework and technology are deployed to tackle rising methane emissions.
Stakeholders, who gathered in Abuja yesterday at a multi-stakeholders programme organised by the Natural Resource Governance Institute called for urgent actions to ensure the responsible use of gas resources.
Nigeria has identified over 209.26 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of associated and non-associated gas as transition fuel amidst climate change concerns, which poses serious challenges for oil and gas economies like Nigeria.
While Nigeria contributes about 16 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s methane emissions with the International Energy Agency (IEA) projection showing that in 2023, Nigeria must have generated approximately $350 million in revenue from abatement initiatives such as capturing and reselling methane, stakeholders are worried that expansion of gas utilisation could worsen the emissions.
Director-General, National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe, stressing the challenges and solutions related to climate change, energy transition and sustainable development in Nigeria, noted the need for effective planning and policy implementation in carbon emissions and promoting economic development.
Speaking at the event, Maduekwe noted said the country needs accurate data, government engagement and public awareness to support environmental regulations and attract investments.
Stressing that the current administration is implementing a series of projects and guidelines aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the oil and gas industry, she said the goal is to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability by leveraging Nigeria’s natural resources and improving energy efficiency.
NRGI Senior Officer, Tengi George-Ikoli, insisted that expanding domestic gas use and exports has serious consequences of escalating methane emissions in Nigeria unless necessary actions are taken.
Stressing the need to prevent increasing methane emissions, George-Okoli said unchecked methane emissions could worsen Nigeria’s climate change crisis and undermine the country’s capacity to trade in the global market and leverage the proceeds to sustain its economy.
“Nigeria needs a robust methane emissions framework,” she said, adding that technical and regulatory gaps across the oil and gas value chain must be addressed while oil and gas companies must prioritize investments in methane emissions reduction technologies.
George-Ikoli said the Federal Government and relevant agencies, such as the National Council on Climate Change, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Federal Ministry of Environment, must play their part by collaborating with the private sector and other stakeholders to develop clear strategies and expedite implementation.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Ogbonnaya Orji, said there was a need to incorporate a methane emissions reduction mechanism in Nigeria’s response to energy transition.
“The global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy poses significant risks to countries like Nigeria that rely heavily on hydrocarbon-based revenues. The apprehension about known risks often outweighs the potential unknown opportunities, leading many affected countries to approach the energy transition debate cautiously,” he said.
In August 2022, Nigeria launched its plan to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The plan aims for a transition to net zero by 2050, with carbon emission targets set for 2060—10 years later than the global target for energy transition. The main thrust of this plan includes reducing or eliminating carbon emissions, including methane, and providing infrastructure for renewable energy.
Director of Programmes at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, Akintunde Babatunde, said it is important to improve the knowledge cycle and framework in addressing methane emissions.
Babatunde stressed that upskilling civil society organisations and journalists to better report on sectoral events, is crucial to ensuring the government is supported and held accountable in their pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
