Precious Anga
Lagos — The Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI) has called for stricter enforcement of methane emission regulations in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, warning that weak compliance continues to expose communities in the Niger Delta to serious environmental and health risks.
The call was made by NRGI’s Country Manager, Tengi George-Ikoli, during a webinar focused on strengthening accountability and enforcement through media storytelling on methane emissions.
The event also featured the launch of a documentary titled The Human Cost of Methane Emissions in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, produced by Policy Alert and We The People with support from NRGI.
Speaking during the session, George-Ikoli stressed the need for a credible and unified system for measuring methane emissions across the industry, noting that accurate data remains critical to tracking progress and achieving meaningful reductions.
She said establishing a common baseline and robust measurement standards would enhance transparency, improve accountability and build public confidence in emission reduction efforts.
According to her, oil and gas companies must move beyond simply reporting methane emissions and take concrete steps to actively manage and reduce them. She added that transparency should result in measurable action throughout the sector’s value chain.
George-Ikoli also advocated stronger monitoring and reporting mechanisms, supported by independent verification and effective regulatory oversight, to ensure emission reduction targets are credible and sustainable.
She emphasised that any successful methane reduction strategy must deliver tangible benefits to host communities, noting that the documentary highlighted the human impact often hidden behind industry statistics.
“The film brings to the forefront the voices and experiences of communities that are frequently excluded from climate and energy discussions,” she said.
She described the documentary as a valuable resource for journalists, researchers, civil society groups and policymakers seeking to deepen public understanding of methane-related challenges.
George-Ikoli further underscored the role of the media in bridging the gap between policy commitments and realities on the ground, saying investigative journalism remains essential for testing official claims, tracking evidence and holding institutions accountable.
Also speaking, Executive Director of Policy Alert, Tijah Bolton-Apkan, described the documentary as a powerful accountability tool that sheds light on the governance failures surrounding methane emissions in Nigeria’s oil-producing communities.
He said communities located around gas flare sites continue to face severe consequences, including respiratory illnesses, environmental pollution, declining agricultural productivity, shrinking fish stocks and broader climate-related impacts.
“Every day that unchecked emissions continue, communities pay the price through deteriorating health conditions, environmental damage and lost economic opportunities,” he said.
Bolton-Apkan argued that the debate should no longer focus on whether methane emissions are causing harm but on why the problem persists despite growing evidence and existing regulations.
He urged journalists to intensify investigations into methane emissions and amplify the experiences of affected communities, pledging continued advocacy for transparency, stronger enforcement and environmental justice in the extractive sector.
Participants at the webinar, including media executives and communication experts, highlighted the critical role of evidence-based reporting in exposing governance gaps and driving accountability.
They called on journalists to closely monitor methane emissions, scrutinise regulatory compliance and track industry performance against Nigeria’s climate commitments and international environmental obligations.
Stakeholders agreed that stronger enforcement, improved transparency and sustained public scrutiny are essential to reducing methane pollution and protecting vulnerable communities across the Niger Delta.
