A new bill aimed at eliminating gas flaring in Nigeria is set to progress in the House of Representatives. Introduced by Babajimi Benson from Lagos State, the “Anti-Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Enforcement) Act, 2024” seeks to address the environmental damage caused by gas flaring while promoting the economic use of natural gas for energy generation.
The proposed legislation covers oil and gas activities across Nigeria’s onshore and offshore fields, outlining strict penalties for non-compliance, including hefty fines and potential shutdowns for repeat violators. It also requires operators to submit detailed gas utilisation plans and report incidents of gas flaring to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Communities impacted by gas flaring would have the right to seek compensation and environmental remediation under the bill, which aligns with Nigeria’s broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions and meet international climate change commitments.
The bill is expected to undergo its second reading in the House next week.
