A bill for an act to prohibit gas flaring, encourage gas utilisation and provide for penalties and remedies for gas flaring violations and related matters has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

The sponsor of the bill, Benson Babajimi (APC-Lagos), in his lead debate on Thursday, said the bill represented a decisive legislative intervention aimed at addressing the “long-standing and damaging” practice of gas flaring.

The lawmaker said the bill sought 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.

“It provides a robust framework for enforcement, monitoring and the imposition of penalties to ensure compliance.

“Furthermore, the bill aims to mitigate the environmental, health and economic impacts of gas flaring, aligning Nigeria’s oil and gas operations with international climate change commitments,” Mr Babajide explained.

The lawmaker decried that gas flaring had plagued Nigeria for years, resulting in environmental degradation, health crises such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and economic losses.

“Economically, flaring results in the waste of a valuable resource that could otherwise be harnessed for energy generation or exported to generate revenue,” he said.

Mr Babajimi said the bill provided for a comprehensive prohibition of gas flaring except in emergencies or when explicitly authorised by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

“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.

“Operators must submit regular reports on gas flaring incidents, which will be audited and made publicly available by the NUPRC. This approach ensures public oversight and stakeholder engagement, fostering trust and compliance,” he said.

The rep said the bill, when passed into law, would yield significant benefits like a reduction in carbon emissions, thereby contributing to Nigeria’s climate targets and promoting sustainability.

He said that economically, it would unlock the potential of natural gas as an energy resource, enhancing electricity generation, supporting industrialisation and creating jobs.

The lawmaker said adopting the bill would position Nigeria to emulate such success, ensuring a balance between environmental stewardship and economic development.

He said that the implementation would be overseen by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, which would monitor compliance through regular audits and enforcement of penalties while facilitating gas utilisation projects in collaboration with operators and development partners.

He stated the Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies would also play supporting roles, particularly in monitoring the environmental impact and ensuring remediation, where necessary.

In his ruling, the speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, referred the bill to relevant committees for further legislative actions.

(NAN)