Communities in the Niger Delta have raised alarm over the severe health risks posed by methane emissions from oil and gas operations, calling on the government and fossil fuel companies to take urgent action to curb the hazard.

At a workshop organized in Port Harcourt by Policy Alert, in collaboration with the Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI) and We The People, stakeholders decried the rising cases of respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, and environmental degradation linked to unchecked gas flaring and methane leaks in the region.

Ken Henshaw, Executive Director of We The People, described methane emissions as a silent killer. “Children, women, and the elderly bear the brunt of toxic air pollution, leading to chronic respiratory diseases and worsening health conditions. Methane also contributes to ground-level ozone formation, further endangering human lives,” he warned.

Executive Director of Policy Alert, Tijah Bolton-Akpan, underscored the magnitude of the crisis, noting that methane emissions from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector accounted for 41% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions as of 2020. “Nigeria ranked seventh globally in gas flaring in 2022. Beyond the climate impact, these emissions are an existential threat to fenceline communities already suffering from ecosystem degradation, food insecurity, and compromised livelihoods,” he stated.

Tengi George-Ikoli, Senior Program Officer at NRGI, condemned the failure of oil companies and regulators to uphold global environmental standards. “Communities here cannot continue to suffer while stringent methane reduction policies are enforced in developed countries. Nigeria must implement the 2030 gas flaring phase-out with the seriousness it deserves,” she insisted.

Participants at the workshop called for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, tougher penalties for gas flaring, and greater community involvement in environmental monitoring. They also advocated for increased investment in alternative energy sources such as solar to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Civil society organizations pledged technical support to strengthen grassroots advocacy, while community representatives committed to educating locals on the dangers of methane pollution and engaging oil companies and regulators more effectively.