Reps pass anti-gas flaring prohibition Bill for second reading

By Christiana Ekpa

The Anti-Gas Flaring Prohibition and Enforcement Bill, yesterday, scaled second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.
The Bill sponsored by Babajimi Benson aims to mitigate the environmental, health, and economic impacts of gas flaring, aligning Nigeria’s oil and gas operations with international climate change commitments.
Leading the debate on the Bill, he said the Bill seeks to prohibit the flaring and venting of natural gas, except in strictly regulated circumstances, while encouraging the utilisation of gas resources to foster economic growth and energy generation.
He added that the Bill also provides a robust framework for enforcement, monitoring, and the imposition of penalties to ensure compliance.
Benson noted that the Bill was designed to address these issues while bringing Nigeria in line with global standards such as the Paris Agreement on climate change.
He stressed that the Bill provides for a comprehensive prohibition of gas flaring except in emergencies or when explicitly authorised by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, (NUPRC).
Benson further explained that the implementation of the Bill would be overseen by the NUPRC, which would monitor compliance through regular audits, enforce penalties, and facilitate gas utilisation projects in collaboration with operators and development partners.
He added that the Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies would also play a supporting role, particularly in monitoring the environmental impact and ensuring remediation where necessary.
Benson explained that gas flaring has plagued Nigeria for decades, leading to severe environmental degradation, public health crises, and economic losses.
He said: “Offenders who violate these provisions face stringent penalties, including fines of $5 per 1,000 standard cubic feet of gas flared and potential suspension of operations for repeat violations.
“Furthermore, the Bill ensures that communities affected by gas flaring are entitled to compensation and environmental restoration, creating a mechanism for redress.”