Nigeria’s relentless gas flaring has intensified, undermining the nation’s climate commitments and exacerbating environmental and health crises in oil-producing regions. Despite pledges to eliminate flaring by 2030, operators continue to burn 6.6 billion cubic meters of gas annually, a 10% increase from 2024, according to World Bank data analyzed by Pluboard. The problem is most visible in Akwa Ibom State, where the Network Exploration & Production Nigeria (NEP) flare stack at Inua Eyet Ikot casts a relentless orange glow, emitting heat and pollutants that affect nearby residents. 'That’s how the fire burns nonstop,' said Sunday Okon, a security guard stationed a kilometer from the stack. 'It can be really hot here, and sometimes you feel the vibration.'
The environmental toll is stark. Methane, the primary component of associated gas, is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat over two decades. Nigeria, which generated 16% of sub-Saharan Africa’s oil-and-gas methane emissions between 2010 and 2020, has committed to a 60% reduction in fugitive emissions by 2035 and zero flaring by 2030. Yet, flaring volumes have risen, driven by weak enforcement and corporate strategies that shift pollution liabilities. 'Lax enforcement is undercutting Nigeria’s emissions targets,' said Dr. Chika Eze, an environmental scientist at the University of Lagos. 'The regulatory framework exists, but implementation is lacking.'
At the heart of the issue is the practice of oil majors divesting aging assets to local operators, who often lack the infrastructure to manage gas responsibly. Shell’s 2025 claim of eliminating routine flaring relied heavily on selling its onshore Nigerian assets, which accounted for half of its global flaring. Satellite data from SkyTruth and the Colorado School of Mines revealed that flaring in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17 surged sevenfold after its sale, while Oyigbo’s flaring expanded 15-fold. The United Nations’ International Methane Emissions Observatory confirmed 12 of 21 Niger Delta methane hotspots were on assets divested by AGIP to Oando, with nine concentrated in OML 61 alone.
Regulatory compliance remains inconsistent. The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) found only 15 of 62 upstream companies submitted data in its 2024 audit, with 47 claiming no records and 20 lacking climate policies. Major firms like Aiteo, Seplat, Oando, and Eni’s Nigerian subsidiary failed to disclose emissions, despite federal laws allowing NEITI to penalize non-compliance. 'This poor compliance rate risks Nigeria’s climate goals,' NEITI warned. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reported a 54% compliance rate, though it acknowledged 'technical and infrastructural gaps' in emissions monitoring, delaying standardized measurement systems until 2026 and 2027.
The human cost is evident in communities like Ibeno. Health studies link flaring exposure to reduced lung function, altered blood parameters, and weakened immune systems. A 2026 study across the Niger Delta found higher rates of childhood respiratory illness and poor nutrition among residents. Inua Eyet Ikot, where the air remains thick with heat from the NEP stack, local bricklayer Idiok Godwin described the ordeal: 'We cannot use rainwater here, and some nights it can be very hot. People get ill too.'
Economic losses are equally severe. Between 2020 and 2026, Akwa Ibom operators flared 35.9 billion standard cubic feet of gas, equivalent to $125.8 million in wasted fuel, 1.9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, and $71.9 million in penalties. The energy could have generated 3,600 gigawatt-hours of electricity. NEP, which claims a 2027 flaring end goal and a 50% carbon intensity reduction by 2030, has not responded to requests for updates on its progress.
International disclosures are equally lacking. Of 153 global energy firms in the UN-backed Oil and Gas Methane Partnership, only three are Nigerian. State-owned NNPC has never filed, Chevron’s submission received the lowest transparency rating, and no domestic upstream operator has joined. Meanwhile, companies like TotalEnergies and Chevron, which pledge methane intensity targets, have not aligned with local reporting standards. Chevron’s reported emissions dropped 99.8% in a year, but NEITI called for independent verification of the figure.
Seplat, Nigeria’s largest indigenous operator, claims to have ended routine flaring in its onshore Western Assets by 2025, reducing flare volumes from 9% to 3% of produced gas. However, its Eastern Assets, including Ibeno, only began the process in 2026. The company asserts compliance with all regulatory requirements but has not addressed the surge in flaring linked to asset sales. 'We continue to monitor and reduce emissions through proper designs and maintenance,' a spokesperson said.
The Nigerian government’s climate plan, updated in 2021, includes a 60% reduction in fugitive methane emissions by 2035 and economy-wide net-zero by 2060. However, the NUPRC’s 2025 acknowledgment of monitoring gaps and delayed measurement systems undermines confidence in achieving these targets. NUPRC spokesperson Eniola Akinkuotu stated, 'All companies have to abide by disclosure rules,' but the commission has not confirmed progress on new measurement plans.
Public frustration is growing. Residents in flaring-affected areas describe a lack of accountability from both corporations and regulators. 'There is nothing we can do about it,' said Godwin. 'We just keep managing.' Environmental advocates warn that without stricter enforcement, Nigeria’s climate commitments will remain unmet. 'The regulatory vacuum is a direct threat to public health and the environment,' said Dr. Eze. 'Nigeria must prioritize transparency and accountability to fulfill its promises.'
The crisis highlights systemic challenges in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Weak enforcement, corporate loopholes, and inadequate data collection create a cycle of pollution and underdevelopment. As flaring continues, the human and environmental costs mount, raising urgent questions about the nation’s ability to balance energy production with sustainability. 'This is not just an environmental issue,' said a NEITI official. 'It’s a matter of justice for communities bearing the brunt of corporate and regulatory failures.'
Nigeria’s methane problem underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform. Strengthening regulatory oversight, enforcing transparency, and holding corporations accountable are critical steps toward meeting climate goals and protecting vulnerable populations. Without decisive action, the nation risks further environmental degradation and a deepening crisis for its citizens.
The report was supported by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).