Foundation Urges Nigeria’s House Of Reps To Fast-Track Anti-Gas Flaring Bill To Safeguard Niger Delta Communities

AdvoKC Foundation, a youth-led organisation dedicated to governance, transparency, and accountability, has called on Nigeria’s 10th House of Representatives to set a definitive passage timeline for the Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Punishment) Bill before the end of its legislative term in 2027.

In a statement signed by its Project Director Habib Sheidu, the Foundation stressed the need for “robust enforcement mechanisms to end routine gas flaring and impose meaningful penalties on violators” in the energy sector.

The bill, sponsored by Babajimi Benson, seeks to address the long-standing health and environmental impacts of gas flaring across the country. Although it passed its second reading in December 2024, flaring by local and multinational oil companies persists due to the absence of a binding law, leaving host communities in the Niger Delta and beyond exposed to polluted air and other hazards.

The Foundation urged the House to “publicly commit to a clear passage timeline before the end of the current legislative session,” emphasising that vigorous enforcement must be at the core of the bill’s provisions.

It highlighted the broader implications of unchecked gas flaring. According to data from the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigeria lost an estimated $1.05 billion worth of natural gas to flaring in 2024 alone. This waste translated into about 16 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, with uncollected fines valued at $602 million. Furthermore, the gas wasted could have generated 30.1 thousand GigaWatts of electricity, equivalent to the annual power consumption of 684 million Nigerians.

AdvoKC described the bill as a “lifeline for vulnerable communities, a critical tool for holding oil companies accountable, and a necessary step to recover billions in lost revenue from wasted natural gas.”

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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Kangmwa Gofwen

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