Gas Flaring in Nigeria
Environmental campaigners, civil society organizations, and community representatives from across the Niger Delta have called for an immediate review of Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), demanding a clear deadline to permanently end gas flaring in the region.
The demand was among the key resolutions reached at the Climate Justice Assembly held on Friday in Benin City, during the launch of the campaign themed “Yasunize and Ogonize the World for Socio-Ecological Wellbeing.” The event was organized by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).
In a joint declaration signed by Mr. Stanley Egholo, Cadmus Atake-Enade, and Kome Odhomor, the participants criticized the PIA for what they described as its “failure to protect the Niger Delta” and for “allowing continued gas flaring while unfairly placing the burden of pipeline protection on host communities.”
They urged the National Assembly to amend the law, specifically to strip regulatory bodies of the power to issue gas-flaring permits and to legislate a fixed end-date for the practice — with exceptions only for exceptional, well-defined emergencies.
According to the statement, “Gas flaring fines should reflect the market value of the gas and be paid directly into host community development funds.”
The coalition further demanded the removal of legal provisions that make communities responsible for safeguarding oil installations or criminalize peaceful protests. “Let host communities, not oil companies, manage development funds,” they insisted.
The group also called for a comprehensive audit of the environmental, health, and economic toll of oil and gas operations across the Niger Delta, referencing the 2011 UNEP Report on Ogoniland, which exposed large-scale pollution and ecosystem damage.
“The devastation across the Niger Delta demands urgent cleanup, ecological restoration, and reparations for over six decades of environmental harm,” the resolution stated.
In addition, participants urged reforms within the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), pressing the federal government to publish the commission’s forensic audit report and prosecute all individuals found culpable of mismanagement. They emphasized that NDDC projects should be “community-driven, based on proper needs assessments, and focused on completing abandoned projects before initiating new ones.”
Speaking at the event, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, said the campaign aligns with global movements for climate justice and community-led ecological recovery.
“Continuing extraction while promoting cleanup is total foolishness,” Bassey said. “The major drivers of the climate crisis are greed and convenience. This assembly echoes the demands of frontline communities ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Even if expectations are low, we cannot relent in advocacy.”
Bassey explained that the “Yasunize and Ogonize” campaign seeks to link Africa’s grassroots environmental struggles with similar movements in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
Other speakers included Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, Celestine Akpobari of the Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative (MEDI), and representatives from the Edo Civil Society Coalition (EDOCSO) and Gelegele community.
From the academic front, Dr. Ofuani Sokolo of the University of Benin presented a paper on “Gender, Climate Change, and Community Mobilisation.” HOMEF’s Stanley Egholo and Cadmus Atake-Enade also delivered talks on “Understanding NDAC Manifesto and NSAC Charters” and “Centering Community Voices for Climate Justice.”
(NAN)
