Global Warming: Experts Alarmed by Gas Flaring and Poor Waste Management in Nigeria

As Nigeria grapples with the impacts of global warming and climate change, environmental experts are urging the government and stakeholders to take deliberate action to reduce methane emissions and other greenhouse gases for a cleaner environment and safer existence.

Experts noted that human activities contribute about 60% of methane emissions and emphasized that collective efforts to abate it are critical to achieving the 1.5°C warming pathway, avoiding the worst effects of climate change, and reaching Nigeria’s target of reducing methane emissions by 45% by 2025 and 60-75% by 2030.

This was highlighted during a roundtable discussion in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on “Methane Abatement in Nigeria: A Special Focus on Anthropogenic Sources of Methane Emission,” organized by the Environmental Centre for Oil Spill and Gas Flaring (ECOSGF), African Initiative for Transparency Accountability and Responsible Leadership (AfriTAL), Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF), and sponsored by TrustAfrica.

Dr. Soberekon Afiesimama of ECOSGF explained in his paper that since the Industrial Revolution in Nigeria, methane has contributed over 30% of global temperature rise and is the second most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG) after carbon dioxide (CO2), with over 80 times the heat-trapping potential of CO2.

“Anthropogenic methane emissions are mainly from three sectors: fossil fuels (~35%), agriculture (~42%), and waste (~20%),” he said. “Total methane emission from human activities is between 350-390 million tonnes annually. Natural methane emissions come primarily from vegetated wetlands, freshwater systems, natural geological sources, and the Arctic, with wetlands contributing about 83% of natural sources.”

The guest speaker and international environmental rights expert, Christopher Inyang, stated that global warming is causing an international environmental crisis affecting plants, animals, and human lives. He expressed concern about Nigeria’s ability to achieve its methane reduction targets by 2025, given ongoing gas flaring in the Niger Delta and issues like waste mismanagement, coal mining, and agricultural activities.

Inyang advocated for a green environment and tree planting as effective ways to mitigate global warming. “Global warming causes an international environmental crisis that can affect plants, animals, and human lives. It has been agreed that carbon dioxide has been the greatest problem for human lives, and solutions like planting green trees have been proposed,” he said.

Dr. Afiesimama emphasized that reducing methane emissions requires a combination of technological solutions and behavioral changes in the oil and gas sector. “70% of emissions can be abated using natural gas for power production, vehicle fuel (CNG), and LPG. The elimination of flaring associated gases, and the adoption and implementation of regulatory standards in the downstream, midstream, and upstream sectors are also key,” he said.

He also noted that the agricultural and waste management sectors could deploy biodigester technology to abate methane emissions and capture methane for use as a source of energy. He advised against food waste, open burning of waste, and advocated for the adoption of alternate wetting and drying of rice cultivation.

In her keynote address, Ogo Chukwudi of TrustAfrica called on the government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize methane abatement in waste management, agricultural practices, and fossil fuel emissions. She stressed that while significant attention has been given to emissions from fossil fuel extraction and use, emissions from human activities such as agriculture and waste management have not received adequate attention.

Umo Isua-Ikoh of the Peace Point Development Foundation advocated for activities that would mitigate climate change and restore the environment to its natural state.

Dr. Louis Ogbeifun, presenting the Policy Brief on “Methane Abatement in Nigeria: A Special Focus on Methane Emissions from Anthropogenic Sources,” urged relevant government agencies to implement and enforce methane reduction policies, and called on CSOs to drive advocacy and community outreach, and the private sector to innovate and develop technologies for methane abatement and efficient waste management.

Professor Essien Udosen of Ritman University condemned the rate of waste mismanagement and gas flaring, which exacerbate climate change. “Waste accumulation is the worst; when rain falls, it will decompose these things, releasing methane into the air. Methane is dangerous and contributes more to global warming than carbon dioxide. The good thing is that you can capture it and convert it to biogas for cooking or automotive purposes,” he said.