The Nigerian Government has unveiled a series of concrete initiatives aimed at accelerating methane-emission reduction and ending routine gas flaring across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo announced the measures at the Sub-Saharan African Roundtable on Methane Emissions held in Abuja.
The event, themed: “Turning Methane Pledges into Action,” brought together regional stakeholders to discuss strategies for curbing methane pollution.
Ekpo said, “Nigeria is taking decisive steps to meet its national and global commitments on methane reduction and energy transition.”
He noted that a key part of these efforts is the strict enforcement of flare-out deadlines mandated under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Regulators, he said, have been directed to intensify compliance monitoring and ensure that operators meet the set timelines for eliminating routine gas flaring.
To strengthen monitoring capabilities, the Minister revealed that “the country is deploying advanced methane-detection technologies—including satellite systems, drones, and handheld sensors—to support leak detection and repair across upstream and midstream operations. These technologies will provide real-time emissions data, enhance accountability, and reduce environmental impact.”
Ekpo also highlighted new commercial incentives introduced by the Nigerian Government to support methane abatement initiatives. These include frameworks for flare-to-power projects, expansion of the LPG market, and development of small-scale LNG solutions.
According to him, the incentives are designed to convert previously wasted gas into productive economic value, powering industries, supporting households, and creating employment opportunities.
The Minister emphasised that Nigeria’s efforts form part of a growing regional collaboration. He said the government is working with Sub-Saharan African producers to harmonize standards and share best practices.
“We are ready to work with our neighbours to create scalable models that transform methane-related challenges into economic opportunities for the entire continent,” he said.
Ekpo further disclosed that the government’s domestic gas expansion drive has already enabled over one million households to transition to LPG as their primary cooking fuel.
According to him, the goal is to reach at least five million households by 2030 in line with Nigeria’s clean-energy transition plan.
He stressed that sustained progress in methane reduction will require strong political will, technological innovation, targeted investment, and long-term partnerships.
He reaffirmed that Nigeria remains committed to leading Africa’s shift toward cleaner, gas-driven growth and contributing significantly to global methane reduction efforts.
Olusola Akintonde