Nigeria hosts Sub-Saharan African roundtable on methane emissions
Omeiza Bilal
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, is hosting a two-day Sub-Saharan African Roundtable on Methane Emissions in Abuja with the theme: “Turning Methane Pledges into Action”.
Holding between 24th and 25th November 2025, the event has convened stakeholders, policymakers, regulators, technical experts, operators, and development partners from across the region to advance practical and collaborative solutions for methane mitigation in Africa’s oil and gas industry.
In his keynote address, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described methane as one of the most potent greenhouse gases driving global warming, noting that achieving the Global Methane Pledge target of a 30 percent reduction by 2030 is both realistic and economically beneficial for oil and gas producing nations.
The Minister highlighted Nigeria’s leadership on methane management, emphasizing that the country was the first in Africa to publish a Methane Action Plan, explaining further that the Nigeria has made significant progress through sustained reduction in routine gas flaring, extensive mapping of flare sites, advancement of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, deployment of leak detection and repair technologies, and the steady expansion of liquefied petroleum gas utilisation in households.
He added that these actions, alongside emerging gas infrastructure projects under the Decade of Gas Initiative, reflect Nigeria’s commitment to environmental responsibility, economic diversification, improved energy access, and public health enhancement.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi, described the roundtable as timely and crucial, particularly as global attention shifts from broad climate declarations to concrete emission-reduction outcomes. He emphasised that methane reduction lies at the heart of Nigeria’s environmental, economic, and energy priorities, noting that although the country holds vast natural gas reserves, decades of gas flaring and venting have contributed to considerable financial losses and environmental impact.
Dr. Obi however stressed that the Federal Government is decisively reversing this trend through strengthened regulatory frameworks established by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which prohibits unauthorised flaring and reinforces environmental oversight across the oil and gas value chain.
The Permanent Secretary further explained that Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement commits the country to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 47 percent by 2030 on a conditional basis, and 20 percent unconditionally with international support. He noted that “these commitments are not abstract targets, the are embedded in national programmes, policy reforms, and infrastructure Investments currently underway”
Obi also underscored the opportunity for African countries to leverage methane reduction as a development tool capable of delivering cleaner industries, improving public health, creating jobs, expanding energy access, and attracting investment.
He called on participants to leverage the roundtable as a platform for deepening regional collaboration, harmonising regulatory standards, strengthening institutional capacity, encouraging technology transfer, and mobilising climate finance for sustainable energy development.
According to him, “Nigeria stands ready, not only as a participant, but as a committed partner and regional leader in promoting practical methane reduction solutions and balance environmental responsibility with economic necessity”
Participants at the roundtable expressed optimism that the deliberations in Abuja will contribute significantly to coordinated regional action, improved regulatory mechanisms, and practical solutions capable of positioning Africa as a proactive contributor to global methane-reduction efforts.
The roundtable is organised by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the African Energy Commission (AFREC).
The high point of the event was the unveiling of the maiden edition of Gas Pulse Magazine, a publication developed to document key programmes, reforms, and milestones across Nigeria’s gas value chain.
