- Nigeria Leads Methane Reduction Drive, Showcases Climate Action at Global LNG Forum
- Says gas flaring volumes have dropped by over 40 per cent in the last 26 years
- Referenced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent announcement of a $2 billion National Climate Change Fund at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability WeeK
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) has spotlighted Nigeria’s climate and energy initiatives, describing the country as a global reference point for responsible oil and gas operations and methane emissions reduction.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the secretary-General of the GECF, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, said Nigeria has demonstrated strong leadership in cutting methane emissions, offering a practical model for tackling climate change within the gas sector.
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Mshelbila made the remarks on Monday while speaking on a panel titled “Tackling Methane Emissions in the LNG Sector” at the 2026 International LNG Conference in Doha, Qatar.
He identified the establishment and operations of Nigeria LNG (NLNG) as a major milestone in Nigeria’s emissions reduction drive, noting that gas flaring volumes have dropped by over 40 per cent in the last 26 years.
According to him, the monetisation of associated gas through NLNG has significantly reduced environmental damage, while ongoing investments in modern technology and asset upgrades are expected to deliver further emission cuts.
Mshelbila, who is also a former Managing Director of NLNG, highlighted several government-led initiatives aimed at commercialising Nigeria’s vast gas reserves, estimated at about 200 trillion cubic feet.
Central among them is the Decade of Gas Initiative, covering the period from 2021 to 2030, which seeks to position natural gas as the country’s transition fuel. The programme targets improved energy access, increased government revenue and accelerated industrial growth.
Under the initiative, Nigeria is expanding the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for transportation, promoting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as an alternative to kerosene and charcoal for household cooking, and increasing gas-to-power capacity to support electricity generation.
Mshelbila also noted that Nigeria is leveraging gas exports to drive economic growth while placing green finance at the centre of its energy transition strategy.
He referenced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent announcement of a $2 billion National Climate Change Fund at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, aimed at financing emission-reduction projects and strengthening climate resilience.
In addition, Nigeria’s Climate Investment Platform is expected to mobilise at least $500 million for climate-resilient infrastructure across key sectors of the economy, reflecting rising investor confidence in the country’s sustainability agenda.
Mshelbila said Nigeria’s climate policies align with the GECF’s broader strategy of decarbonising the gas industry through carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), blue hydrogen development and other low-emission technologies.
Other panellists, including senior executives from Uniper, Honeywell and TotalEnergies, stressed the importance of collaboration among gas-producing nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
They warned that sanctions or rigid timelines imposed on countries without adequate resources could hinder global progress toward net-zero targets and lead to trade exclusion.
Mshelbila echoed the concern, cautioning that shutting countries out of global energy markets over climate benchmarks could undermine inclusive and sustainable energy transition efforts worldwide
FURTHER READING
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