Nigeria: Environmental Remediation - Oil Community Demands Use of ₦126.85 Billion Gas Flare Penalties

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a Premium Times report, said residents of Unyenge in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State are demanding that ₦126.85 billion in gas flare penalty liabilities be made available for environmental cleanup. The oil-producing community said pollution linked to decades of oil and gas activity has damaged livelihoods and that the Petroleum Industry Act provides for such penalties to support remediation in affected host communities.

The demand was made at a 14 July town hall in Unyenge convened by the Policy, Environment and Economic Rights Foundation under its #Unlock2remediate campaign. The meeting brought together traditional leaders, women and youth representatives, local officials, civil society groups and environmental specialists to discuss host community rights and the environmental provisions of the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act. PEER Foundation’s executive director, Mfon Gabriel, argued that gas flare penalties should not be treated as general public revenue.

According to the report, Ekemini Simon of Premium Times told the meeting that NEITI documents and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency’s gas flare tracker showed companies operating within Mbo had paid ₦126.85 billion in penalties from 2021 to 2025. The firms named included Mobil, Universal Energy, Oriental Energy, Moni Pulo, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria and Addax Petroleum. He said the figure did not include ₦13.92 billion in outstanding liabilities attributed to Esso E&P and Oriental Energy as of August 2024.

Residents and community representatives described damaged mangroves, poor access to clean water, health concerns, weak school infrastructure and a three-year lack of electricity despite ongoing flaring. Participants adopted resolutions to expand public awareness, petition officials, seek legal enforcement of PIA provisions, work with PEER Foundation and Policy Alert, and continue peaceful advocacy for environmental restoration.