SPACES FOR CHANGE, NEITI AND NOSDRA CO-HOST NATIONAL EXTRACTIVES DIALOGUE (NED) 2024

SPACES FOR CHANGE, NEITI AND NOSDRA CO-HOST NATIONAL EXTRACTIVES DIALOGUE (NED) 2024 3

Spaces for Change|S4C, in collaboration with the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), with support from Ford Foundation, organized the third edition of the National Extractives Dialogue (NED) on July 24 – 25, in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. Over 150 stakeholders in West Africa’s extractive industry, including the Honorable Minister of State for Environment, chief executives of corporations and government agencies, federal legislators, academics, regulatory bodies, civil society organizations, traditional rulers, students, host communities and the media, attended the two-day event. The rich mix of stakeholders from Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal united in sector-wide reflections and insightful deliberations centered on the theme, “Gas Flare Reduction: Catalyst for Accelerating Nigeria’s Path to Net Zero Emission and Sustainable Development.”

The keynote address delivered by the Honourable Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, as well as the opening statements, expert presentations, panel discussions, testimonies and plenary sessions emphasized the need to reduce carbon emissions from gas flaring in light of the severe socio-economic and environmental impacts of gas flaring, particularly on the oil-rich communities hosting petroleum installations and oil extraction activities. Honorable Minister Salako underscored the commitment and various efforts of the Nigerian government to eliminate gas flaring and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, as outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021. The commitment to climate justice announced by former President Muhammadu Buhari at COP26 in Glasgow, and followed by the launch of the Energy Transition Plan (ETP) in August 2022, form the cornerstone of Nigeria’s climate policy. President Tinubu reaffirmed this commitment at COP28 in Dubai, pledging to end gas flaring, reduce methane emissions, impose heavy penalties for non-compliance, and introduce the Nigerian Carbon Market Initiative as part of the broader African Carbon Market Initiative.

Other opening statements by the executives of civil society, government departments, regulatory bodies and communities concurred that reducing gas flaring is essential for cutting carbon emissions, unlocking economic value, and fostering sustainable development consistent with Nigeria’s net-zero emissions target by 2060 and the 2030 goal to cease gas flaring. The mandates of regulatory bodies like the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) include gas flare management, mandatory quarterly reports, gas flare auctioning, and ensuring compliance with the provisions of the PIA. As a result of these flare-down initiatives, gas flaring has reduced to 9% as of 2017, thanks to policy transparency and interagency collaboration.  As the “police of the environment,” NOSDRA’s Nigerian Gas Flaring Tracker (NGFT), a satellite-based platform, monitors and tracks gas flaring activities, quantifying carbon emissions and enhancing transparency and accountability in the sector. Not only that, indigenous and international petroleum corporations are reducing gas flaring through gas gathering systems and the involvement of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

Throughout the two days,  participants examined the extent Nigeria and other countries in West Africa are realizing their climate vision and targets. Personal testimonies shared by the traditional rulers and representatives of several host communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria provided firsthand accounts of the severe health and environmental consequences arising from gas flaring and oil spills. They highlighted the devastating effects of gas flaring on women and children, calling for urgent health interventions and poverty alleviation programs tailored to the needs of rural women and local youth. Despite the progress that has been made, gas flaring continues in the Niger Delta, especially in areas lacking the infrastructure to channel gas to the market. Although the federal government has identified natural gas as a transition fuel, the infrastructure needed to capture and utilize the gas, is very much lacking. Other related industries that will utilize flared gas have not also kicked off, such as power generation, fertilizer and petrochemical plants. As a result, communities continue to bear the brunt of environmental, health, and economic harms caused by gas flaring. Gas flare penalties for non-compliance are very light and do not benefit the host communities.

Statistical and scientific evidence shared during the various sessions corroborated the accounts of community representatives, revealing gaps between policy commitments and practice. An array of proposed solutions for bridging this gap ranged from strengthening accountability mechanisms for socio-economic and environmental rights violations, increased regulatory competence, stiffer penalties, effective compliance and enforcement mechanisms, strong regulations, political will and technological approaches. Leveraging satellite and geospatial data to address environmental challenges in Nigeria’s extractive industry, particularly gas flaring, is a transformative approach that has not been seriously considered before. Earth observation satellites and real-time monitoring provide critical data on the intensity, frequency, and geographical distribution of gas flaring, enabling analysis of historical trends and evaluation of mitigation strategies. These technologies are crucial for enhancing regulatory compliance, assessing air quality, land degradation, and understanding broader environmental and public health impacts. The integration of satellite data fosters transparency, accountability, and collaboration among government agencies, research organizations, civil society, and the private sector, promoting sustainable resource management and creating economic opportunities through optimized natural gas use.

NED 2024 highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated and transparent approach to addressing the environmental and socio-economic impacts of gas flaring in Nigeria and across West Africa. The dialogue underscored the significance of leveraging technology, regulatory frameworks, and community engagement to drive meaningful progress. By fostering collaboration between government agencies, industry stakeholders, and host communities, Nigeria can effectively reduce gas flaring, advance towards its net-zero emission targets, and unlock new economic opportunities through sustainable resource management. The event set a promising benchmark for future actions, emphasizing that immediate, intentional efforts and the enforcement of existing policies are crucial for achieving a just and sustainable energy transition.

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