Nigeria: Investigation - Oil Companies Violate Nigerian Laws, Flare Gas, Face No Sanctions (1)

What the report says

Premium Times, in an investigation published through AllAfrica, says Nigeria’s tougher gas-flaring rules have not been matched by effective enforcement, leaving oil-producing communities exposed to continuing flaring and methane pollution. The report centers on the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021 and 2023 regulations from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, which were meant to require producers to submit flare-elimination plans, track emissions and reduce routine flaring.

The newspaper said it examined government datasets, company disclosures and site conditions in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, including communities near assets operated by Heirs Energies, Aradel Holdings, Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company, and Frontier Oil. Residents in places such as Umuechem and Mbodo in Rivers State described heat, crop damage, roof deterioration and health complaints they associate with nearby flare stacks. Health workers in the area reported recurring cases of eye irritation, chest discomfort, skin rashes and malaria, though they did not directly blame every case on flaring.

According to the investigation, flare volumes at some assets increased after the new rules took effect, and some companies did not provide requested environmental records. The report says one operator acknowledged missing two major compliance requirements without any known sanction. Premium Times also cited data showing Heirs Energies’ flaring at OML 17 rose sharply in 2024 and that the company reported one of the country’s highest methane totals for 2023. The findings matter because Nigeria has long pledged to curb gas flaring, but the article argues that the promised environmental and public-health benefits are still not reaching host communities.