Nigeria must stop gas flaring —UN, others

The Chairman, United Nations Sustainable Energy for All, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, and other experts have called on the Federal Government to end gas flaring in Nigeria.

Yumkella, in a keynote address at the 26th World LP Gas Forum in London on Wednesday, condemned the continuous and unsustainable level of gas flaring by international oil firms operating in the country.

According to him, it is not fair that children still play at night in the Niger Delta looking at gas being flared in the distance.

For a country that requires gas to power thermal stations and attain equitable energy distribution to all and sundry, the UN executive called for an urgent action from the government to reduce gas flaring in the country.

He also said gas flaring must be stopped throughout the African continent in order to ensure sustainable development.

“The gas flared in Africa can supply 50 per cent of the energy we need, but we have been flaring gas for the past 50 years. That creates insecurity and inequity. For instance, Nigeria has been flaring gas since the discovery of oil in the country. This must stop because we need that gas to generate power,” Yumkella said.

The Director, Greenfield Integrated Energy Services Limited, an indigenous LPG player, Mr. ’Seyi Osunkeye, corroborated the UN executive, saying it had become imperative for Nigeria to put an end to gas flaring because of the huge economic losses occasioned by the menace.

He reiterated that there were enabling laws and policies guiding against gas flaring, and urged the government to develop the will power to tackle it.

According to him, ending gas flaring will create employment, sustainable development and reduced migration to Europe.

PUNCH