The Benefits of Methane Mitigation and Reduction in Nigeria's Oil and Gas Sector

This research paper analyzes the potential for Nigeria to leverage methane mitigation in its oil and gas sector to achieve economic, social, and environmental gains. It highlights the country's strategic position as Africa's leading oil and gas producer and argues that reducing methane emissions can drive climate resilience, improve public health, and create green jobs while aligning with international climate commitments.

• Nigeria's oil and gas sector is a significant source of methane emissions, with annual contributions from leaks, venting, and gas flaring exceeding 439.8 kilotons. This reliance on hydrocarbons creates a dual challenge of economic dependency—where oil and gas provide up to 80% of government revenue and over 90% of export earnings—and environmental vulnerability.
• Methane reduction strategies offer substantial economic opportunities for Nigeria. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that the country could unlock USD 1.5 billion annually through these strategies, identifying methane mitigation in the oil and gas sector as one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce global emissions.
• Nigeria has established itself as a regional leader in methane reduction by becoming the first African country to formally commit to the Global Methane Pledge. This commitment involves a target to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels.
• The Nigerian government has implemented several regulatory and policy frameworks to address methane emissions, including the Climate Change Act of 2021, the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, and the 'Decade of Gas' initiative. Additionally, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has developed the Nigerian Gas Flare Tracker as part of the Accountability, Transparency, Data, and Policy Enforcement (ATDPE) initiative.

APA

Mahmoud, M. I. (2025). The Benefits of Methane Mitigation and Reduction in Nigeria's Oil and Gas Sector. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/the-benefits-of-methane-mitigation-and-reduction-in-nigerias-oil-and-gas-sector

Chicago

Mahmoud, Mahmoud Ibrahim. The Benefits of Methane Mitigation and Reduction in Nigeria's Oil and Gas Sector. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2025. https://afripoli.org/the-benefits-of-methane-mitigation-and-reduction-in-nigerias-oil-and-gas-sector.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mahmoud |first1=Mahmoud Ibrahim |title=The Benefits of Methane Mitigation and Reduction in Nigeria's Oil and Gas Sector |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=12 February 2025 |url=https://afripoli.org/the-benefits-of-methane-mitigation-and-reduction-in-nigerias-oil-and-gas-sector |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mahmoud2025benefits, author = {Mahmoud, Mahmoud Ibrahim}, title = {{The Benefits of Methane Mitigation and Reduction in Nigeria's Oil and Gas Sector}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://afripoli.org/the-benefits-of-methane-mitigation-and-reduction-in-nigerias-oil-and-gas-sector}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }