Nigeria Is Committed Towards Methane Mitigation and Reduction- Salako
…Says Tinubu’s Unwavering Determination To End Gas-flaring by 2030 Is a Testament to this
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has said Nigeria was doing everything possible to reduce and mitigate methane especially within the Oil and Gas Sector. He stated this on Tuesday, March 26 in Abuja at the National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Methane Mitigation and Reduction in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector. He said it was no longer news that climate change possessed a significant threat to mankind and our planet thereby making it imperative for concerted efforts to address issues of greenhouse gases, its sources and the associated adverse effects. Research, Salako said, confirmed that the concentration of methane in the atmosphere was around two-and-a-half times greater than pre-industrial levels and is increasing steadily. This rise has important adverse implications for our environment, our climate, social, economic and physical health. As an example, a number of the security challenges being currently faced in our country are traceable to global warming and will therefore not be solved through arms and ammunition alone but by also addressing the poverty and loss of livelihoods induced by climate change, he noted.
Although green house gas emissions are also known to come from other sources such as coal burning and bioenergy, oil and gas operations appears to the largest source of emissions from the energy sector. He said , “As we tackle all sources of methane emissions arising from human activity, we therefore need to beam our focus more on emissions from oil and gas operations. Methane, with its potent warming capability and harmful effects on both climate and human health, demands urgent attention. Nigeria as a leading oil and gas producer in Africa, recognizes its responsibility to take decisive action in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane.”
He said Nigeria was the first country in Africa to regulate methane emissions in the energy sector and continues to contribute its quota to meet the global methane pledge and methane reduction target for the oil and gas sector was incorporated into Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) . The NDC stands as a testament to the country’s alignment with international measures advocated by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) reflecting ambitious targets for reducing pollutants such as carbon, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, particulate matter (PM2.5), and nitrous oxides (NOx).
“In recognition of the country’s efforts, Nigeria has been honoured as one of the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) Champion. This prestigious title acknowledges our dedication to mobilizing increased action to achieve methane reduction targets under the Paris Agreement. With support from the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), Nigeria has translated ambition into concrete actions, thereby positioning as a pivotal participant in the global push for methane reduction and climate action.
“The journey towards methane reduction in Nigeria is further bolstered by the imminent completion of Nigeria’s Methane Roadmap, supported by Climate and Clean Air Coalition in collaboration with the World Bank through the Methane Roadmap Action Programme (M-RAP). These initiatives further underscores Nigeria’s determination to implement effective strategies for methane mitigation and reduction.
“Within the oil and gas sector, practical steps are being taken to address methane emissions. Collaborative efforts of government institutions have led to the development of methane guidelines. In addition, the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) will be commencing the periodic review of the plans of International and indigenous Oil Companies to ensure they stay on course to end routine gas flaring by latest 2030.
“Furthermore, Nigeria is poised to embark on methane reduction projects that will enable Nigeria’s commitment to methane reduction and meeting Net zero emissions by 2060. It is therefore reassuring to see initiatives such as the Project- “Methane Mitigation and Reduction in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector” which is being initiated with today’s event, Salako noted.
He said the national stakeholder engagement event was expected to serve as a platform to discuss the complexities of methane mitigation and reduction within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. He charged participants to drive the process of accelerating significant progress in methane emissions reductions with constructive contributions which would provide needed opportunity to evaluate the current situation, raise awareness, explore co-benefits, discuss relevant legislation and regulations, delve into related technical and economic challenges, and propose progressive strategies for effective Project implementation towards meeting this goal. He said the event underscored the importance of data-driven policymaking and the need for robust implementation strategies tailored to the unique realities of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
salako said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has continued to demonstrate his commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action in line with the many multilateral environmental agreements that Nigeria is party to. This commitment, he noted, is well captured in the Renewed Hope Agenda and the presidential priorities. He said, At COP28 in Dubai, the President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to end routine gas-flaring by 2030 to reflect the seriousness with which Nigeria approached methane mitigation and reduction.
