For many years, the orange glow from fuel flares has lit up the skies of Umuechem in Etche Native Executive House of Rivers State lengthy after sundown.
For 65-year-old Rose Ordu, the flames are greater than an everlasting function of the panorama; they have got develop into a part of her day-to-day fight.
Status on her cassava and vegetable farm in April, Ms Ordu pointed to vegetation she mentioned now not develop as they as soon as did. Her farmland, positioned a couple of hundred metres from an oil facility operated by way of Heirs Energies beneath Oil Mining Hire (OML) 17, has supported her circle of relatives for years. She says harvests have continuously declined.
“After I plant greens, they don’t develop smartly as a result of the warmth from the flare. They wither temporarily. Even if I observe fertiliser, they’re nonetheless dangerous.”
She wondered why the fuel continues to burn whilst the group stays with out electrical energy for over 3 years. “They will have to convert it to electrical energy as an alternative of losing it,” she mentioned.
A PREMIUM TIMES research of Google Earth imagery confirmed the closest residential construction to be 328 metres from the flare facility.
Ms Ordu’s revel in mirrors proceedings heard in lots of oil-producing communities, the place citizens say fuel flaring has develop into an everlasting function of existence in spite of repeated govt guarantees to finish the apply.
The regulation that promised reform
Gas flaring has lengthy symbolised the environmental value of oil manufacturing in Nigeria. But even so losing precious herbal fuel, the apply releases carbon dioxide, methane and different pollution that give a contribution to local weather trade.
The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), signed into regulation in August 2021, was once anticipated to mark a turning level.
Phase 108 of the Act required corporations generating herbal fuel inside of 365 days of the regulation’s efficient date to publish Flare Removing and Monetisation Plans (FEMP), outlining how they might finish flaring and commercialise fuel.
In 2023, the regulator, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), reinforced the ones tasks during the Gas Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Regulations.
The rules require operators to arrange methane emissions inventories, stay day-to-day information of fuel flaring and venting, put in force Leak Detection and Restore programmes, document fugitive methane emissions and signal binding Milestone Construction Agreements with the regulator.
Taken in combination, the Act and the rules created what gave the impression to be some of the continent’s maximum formidable felony frameworks for decreasing fuel flaring and methane emissions.
Alternatively, a PREMIUM TIMES investigation discovered that whilst the felony framework imposes detailed compliance tasks on oil and fuel manufacturers, the enforcement stays vulnerable.
Gasoline flaring and methane emissions proceed in lots of oil-producing communities with little proof that the promised reforms have translated into significant environmental coverage.
What PREMIUM TIMES discovered
Over 3 months, PREMIUM TIMES visited oil-producing communities in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states the place citizens reside with regards to amenities operated by way of Heirs Energies, Aradel Holdings, Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) and Frontier Oil.
This newspaper analysed gas-flaring information revealed by way of the NUPRC, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). It additionally reviewed the PIA and its enforcing rules, tested sustainability stories and methane disclosures, and despatched detailed media enquiries to the firms and the regulator.
The investigation discovered that Nigeria’s felony framework for finishing regimen fuel flaring has, to a better extent, remained unenforced.
Despite the fact that operators are legally required to do away with flaring and put in force methane-reduction measures, flare volumes rose at a number of oil property after the rules took impact.
Some corporations didn’t reveal key environmental information asked by way of PREMIUM TIMES, together with their FEMP, methane inventories and implementation milestones. One operator admitted it had now not complied with two primary regulatory necessities, but confronted no identified sanction.
For plenty of host communities, the promise of reform exists best on paper.
Communities nonetheless ready
About 25 kilometres from Umuechem, some other flare stack burns day and night time in Mbodo, Ikwerre Native Executive House of Rivers, the place Heirs Energies additionally operates inside of OML 17.
Citizens say extended publicity has develop into a part of day-to-day existence. “The affect is plain on our roofing sheets,” mentioned Emechukwu Good-looking, secretary of the Mbodo Workforce Host Communities Construction Believe. “As a result of our closeness to the flare web page, our roofs become worse quicker.”
He additionally recalled a scientific outreach organised by way of Heirs Energies that produced an sudden consequence.
“We put aside sooner or later for eye examinations as a result of we concept just a few other people would come. The turnout was once greater than thrice what we anticipated, and many of us may now not be attended to,” he mentioned.
On the group’s number one well being centre, well being staff instructed PREMIUM TIMES that itchy eyes, chest ache, pores and skin rashes and malaria are some of the routine proceedings they obtain. They did indirectly characteristic the diseases to fuel flaring.
But, a rising frame of medical proof lends weight to the worries again and again raised by way of host communities.
A study revealed by way of the Nationwide Library of Medication known eye inflammation and chest ache some of the maximum incessantly reported well being stipulations in communities uncovered to fuel flaring within the Niger Delta. Some other study revealed within the West African Magazine of Medication discovered considerably upper charges of chest ache, respiring difficulties, pores and skin inflammation and eye inflammation amongst other people residing with regards to flare websites than the ones dwelling farther away.
Whilst the research don’t conclude that each and every sickness reported by way of citizens is brought about only by way of fuel flaring, they toughen medical fear that extended publicity to emissions from flare websites poses really extensive public well being dangers, in particular the place communities are positioned with regards to energetic flare stacks.
Local weather pledges, emerging emissions
Heirs Energies says on its website that it’s decreasing greenhouse fuel emissions thru fuel commercialisation, off-gas utilisation and the slow removing of regimen fuel flaring in keeping with Nigeria’s local weather goals.
Executive information reviewed by way of PREMIUM TIMES tells a unique tale.
An research of NEITI’s 2022 Oil and Gasoline Trade Report and the NUPRC’s 2023 and 2024 Annual Monetary and Operational Efficiency Studies displays that fuel flaring from OML 17 greater in every of the 2 years following 2022.
The sharpest build up passed off in 2024, when flare volumes rose by way of 140.3 in keeping with cent in comparison with 2023, in spite of the regulatory requirement for operators to put in force flare-elimination measures.
The corporate’s place amongst Nigeria’s perfect flaring operators additionally worsened. In 2023, Heirs Energies ranked sixteenth out of 45 reporting corporations. Through 2024, it ranked 9th amongst 46 operators.
Methane emissions provide an similarly troubling image.
In line with NEITI’s newest revealed methane inventory, masking 2023, Heirs Energies reported 217.36 million kilogrammes of methane emissions, the second-highest quantity recorded by way of any reporting operator within the nation. Best Mobil Generating Nigeria, which operates 4 generating oil mining rentals, reported the next determine. Heirs Energies operates a unmarried generating asset.
On 22 June, PREMIUM TIMES despatched an in depth media enquiry to the corporate’s Assistant Vice President for Exterior and Executive Members of the family, Chidimma Ugbojiaku, inquiring for its flare information, methane stock, Flare Removing and Monetisation Plan, Milestone Construction Settlement with the NUPRC and main points of its environmental compliance between 2021 and Would possibly 2026.
After receiving no reaction, this newspaper despatched a reminder on 26 July. 4 days later, Ms Ugbojiaku said the enquiry and mentioned the corporate would reply. As of the time of submitting this document, no reaction were gained.
Regulation with transparent tasks
The Gasoline Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions (Prevention of Waste and Air pollution) Rules, 2023 impose a few of Nigeria’s maximum stringent environmental tasks on oil and fuel manufacturers.
Each manufacturer of herbal fuel is needed to publish FEMP to the NUPRC, detailing how fuel flaring might be phased out, related fuel commercialised and greenhouse fuel emissions decreased.
The rules additionally require operators to execute a Milestone Construction Settlement with the Fee, take care of day-to-day information of fuel flared and vented, publish per thirty days stories inside of 21 days after the tip of every month, identify methane-monitoring techniques and put in force Leak Detection and Restore (LDAR) programmes to stumble on and fasten methane leaks.
The target was once to transport Nigeria past accumulating flare consequences to forcing operators to finish regimen fuel flaring.
However govt information analysed by way of PREMIUM TIMES displays that the regulatory ambition has now not translated into measurable discounts at a number of generating property. In lots of host communities, flare stacks proceed to burn whilst operators publicly advertise their environmental credentials.
Invisible danger
Unlike the flames that dominate the horizon, methane can’t be noticed by way of the bare eye. It steadily escapes thru leaking valves, growing old pipelines, erroneous compressors, and inefficient fuel flaring and venting, which is the discharge of fuel into the ambience with out burning. Despite the fact that flaring converts a lot of the fuel into carbon dioxide, incomplete combustion lets in methane to flee into the ambience.
Ndifreke Ekpo, a lecturer in environmental toxicology on the College of Uyo, instructed PREMIUM TIMES that methane emissions pose a major problem because of their efficiency.
“This can be a very robust greenhouse fuel and in addition contributes to atmospheric chemical reactions that open holes within the ozone layer,” he mentioned.
Despite the fact that emissions would possibly originate from person oil-producing communities, Mr Ekpo mentioned their affect extends a ways past native barriers.
“The ambience is continuously transferring. Greenhouse gases launched in a single location in the end develop into a part of the worldwide environment.”
Scientists estimate that over two decades, methane traps greater than 80 instances as a lot warmth as carbon dioxide, making it probably the most important drivers of near-term international warming.
Aradel: Sustainability claims meet questions at the flooring
Hours from Port Harcourt, two flare stacks burn often over Ogbele group in Ahoada East Native Executive House of Rivers State, the place Aradel Holdings operates Oil Mining Hire (OML) 54. Right here, Aradel produces oil and fuel and runs a refinery.
In line with Aradel’s 2025 annual document, the “Ogbele box asset has sustained over two decades of constant manufacturing and stays the cornerstone of the corporate’s manufacturing base.”
The document states that the refinery throughout the asset has grown right into a three-train facility with a capability of eleven,000 barrels of oil in keeping with day.
Citizens who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES mentioned the flares are liable for chronic warmth, pores and skin inflammation and respiring difficulties they revel in.
Executive information display Aradel isn’t amongst Nigeria’s biggest gas-flaring operators. Alternatively, an research of NUPRC annual stories signifies that the quantity of fuel flared from OML 54 greater in every of the years following the creation of the Gasoline Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions (Prevention of Waste and Air pollution) Rules, 2023.
The corporate’s methane disclosures elevate fear.
NEITI’s oil and fuel stories reviewed by way of PREMIUM TIMES display Aradel reported precisely 133.52 million kilogrammes of methane emissions in each 2022 and 2023, an an identical determine in successive years.
The newspaper asked an reason for the an identical methane values; copies of the corporate’s FEMP; proof of regulatory approval; its Milestone Construction Settlement with the NUPRC; main points of methane-reduction initiatives; Leak Detection and Restore programmes; environmental tracking stories; and per thirty days gas-flaring logs submitted to the regulator since January 2024.
Aradel had but to offer a written reaction to the PREMIUM TIMES request as of the time of submitting this document.
On 7 August, Aradel initiated a digital assembly with a PREMIUM TIMES reporter. The assembly incorporated the corporate’s Media and Public Members of the family Lead, Victoria Humphrey, the corporate’s Communique Strategist, Edafe Onoriode, and the Normal Supervisor, Sub-Saharan Alternatives, Tunde Odeyemi.
Mr Odeyemi mentioned the corporate does now not have a FEMP for the reason that corporate had ended regimen flaring since 2012. When PREMIUM TIMES insisted that it had noticed fuel burning day and night time from the corporate’s two flare stacks inside of its Ogbele box, Mr Odeyemi mentioned it was once just a “technical flare that occurs anyplace on the planet”.
When PREMIUM TIMES referenced Aradel’s 2025 annual document, the place it dedicated to getting rid of regimen flaring by way of 2026/2027, and asked the phase of the Prevention of Waste and Air pollution law that exempted some corporations from filing FEMP, the corporate ended the assembly with a promise to furnish PREMIUM TIMES with an in depth reaction to the enquiry in writing prior to the tip of the day.
Alternatively, in spite of a number of reminders, Aradel has but to reply to the enquiry.
The absence of a substantive reaction contrasts with Aradel’s public sustainability commitments.
In its 2024 Sustainability Report, the corporate mentioned it had maintained management in getting rid of regimen fuel flaring at Ogbele since 2012. It additionally said that it was once “poised to succeed in an important milestone by way of getting rid of regimen fuel flaring at our refinery by way of the fourth quarter of 2025.”
Alternatively, when PREMIUM TIMES visited Ogbele in July, fuel was once nonetheless being burnt from the corporate’s two energetic flare stacks.
Aradel’s newest annual report seems to replicate a revised timeline. Fairly than reporting the removing of regimen flaring, the corporate says it’s making an investment in fuel commercialisation initiatives anticipated to do away with regimen flaring throughout all its manufacturing hubs between 2026 and 2027.
Sterling Oil: Local weather commitments within the mixture of unanswered questions
About 15 kilometres from Ogbele, some other fuel flare burns often in Abua/Odual Native Executive House of Rivers.
Citizens of the within sight Egbolom group instructed PREMIUM TIMES the warmth turns into extra intense after sundown.
“The nights are the worst,” one resident mentioned. “You fight to sleep as a result of the warmth.” Others complained of routine pores and skin inflammation and discomfort, particularly all over the dry season.
The power inflicting the flare is operated by way of Sterling Oil, one among Nigeria’s biggest upstream oil manufacturers.
Assessing the corporate’s flaring efficiency, alternatively, proved tricky.
Not like some operators, publicly to be had govt stories don’t disaggregate Sterling Oil’s gas-flaring volumes by way of person asset, restricting unbiased tests.
To deal with that hole, PREMIUM TIMES analysed information from the NOSDRA Gas Flare Tracker, which makes use of satellite tv for pc observations to stumble on energetic flare websites thru radiant warmth signatures.
Despite the fact that the platform does now not estimate flare volumes with the precision of manufacturing information, it supplies an unbiased indicator of flare job through the years.
The research discovered no proof that flaring declined after 2024, the length all over which operators have been anticipated to start enforcing licensed FEMP.
A an identical pattern emerged about 200 kilometres away in Jap Obolo Native Executive House of Akwa Ibom State, the place Sterling Oil operates the Utapate box.
Industrial manufacturing on the box started in 2024, but satellite tv for pc information reviewed by way of PREMIUM TIMES signifies that flare job greater sharply.
Gasoline flared within the space rose from 4.9 million same old cubic ft (MSCF) in 2024 to 8 million MSCF in 2025. Through the tip of Would possibly 2026, 7.2 million MSCF had already been flared, suggesting the yearly determine may surpass the former yr’s overall if the fad persevered.
The rise passed off in spite of rules requiring operators to step by step do away with regimen fuel flaring.
Company pledges, restricted transparency, and a anxious environmental file
PREMIUM TIMES sought Sterling Oil’s reaction to those findings.
On 21 June, the newspaper despatched to the corporate a media enquiry inquiring for its greenhouse fuel emissions information, methane inventories, Flare Removing and Monetisation Plan, proof of regulatory approval, Milestone Construction Settlement and data on measures taken to cut back emissions and track environmental affects in host communities.
After receiving no reaction, PREMIUM TIMES despatched a reminder on 26 July and made repeated makes an attempt to acquire feedback during the corporate’s media consultant in Akwa Ibom, Aniekeme Finbarr.
No reaction has been gained as of the time of this document. The silence contrasts with the corporate’s public sustainability commitments.
READ ALSO: INVESTIGATION: Gas flares, poisoned lives, regulatory failures in Nigeria’s oil fields
On its website online, Sterling Oil says it’s dedicated to minimising the environmental affect of its operations thru accountable power use, emissions discount, and larger reliance on low-carbon power assets.
Alternatively, with out get right of entry to to the corporate’s emissions information and regulatory compliance information, the ones commitments can’t be independently assessed.
The loss of transparency is especially important given Sterling Oil’s fresh environmental file.
In June 2025, one among its host communities filed a lawsuit in opposition to the corporate over alleged environmental degradation from vented fuel emissions and different air pollution.
Previous in April that yr, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Akwa Ibom State Executive issued an ultimatum to the corporate over alleged illegal land encroachment and blockage of waterways.
Previous this yr, PREMIUM TIMES reported that citizens residing close to some of the corporate’s flare websites complained of intense warmth and air pollution, with some households leaving behind their properties. Media stories additionally documented issues by way of civil society organisations about extended oil spills in host communities.
Questions have additionally been raised in regards to the corporate’s implementation of the PIA.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that even if the regulation required operators to determine useful Host Neighborhood Construction Trusts inside of a yr of the Act getting into drive in 2021, Sterling Oil best unveiled a complete wishes review for its Akwa Ibom host communities in June 2026.
To environmental advocates, the not on time review and the corporate’s restricted public disclosure on environmental compliance make stronger issues about transparency and regulatory duty.
A few of the 4 corporations investigated, best Frontier Oil, operated by way of Savannah Power, equipped a substantive reaction.
‘Silence fuels local weather denial’
Environmental advocates say the refusal of Heirs Energies, Aradel and Sterling Oil to reveal knowledge on methane emissions and compliance with anti-gas flaring rules undermines public duty.
The coordinator of the Peace Point Development Foundation, Umo Isuaikoh, mentioned the firms’ silence was once inconsistent with the transparency anticipated of companies working in communities suffering from oil air pollution.
“Methane emissions and fuel flaring are issues of public passion. Firms extracting public sources have an obligation to reveal the environmental affect in their operations and what they’re doing to cut back it,” he mentioned.
Mr Isuaikoh mentioned withholding emissions and compliance information makes it tricky for communities, regulators and buyers to independently assess whether or not operators are assembly their felony tasks.
In line with him, the loss of disclosure reinforces “a tradition of local weather denial.”
“Local weather denial isn’t just about rejecting local weather science. It additionally contains withholding knowledge that allows the general public to know air pollution and grasp polluters responsible.”
Frontier Oil opens its books
Unlike the opposite corporations investigated, Frontier Oil Limited equipped an in depth reaction to PREMIUM TIMES’ enquiries.
The reaction presented an extraordinary perception into how one operator manages fuel flaring and methane emissions. It additionally uncovered gaps in regulatory enforcement.
Frontier Oil operates the Uquo box in Akwa Ibom State, the place fuel is flared in Edo and Uqua Isidoho communities in Esit Eket Native Executive House.
Citizens mentioned the flare has affected farming. Friday Edoho, whose farm is positioned close to the ability, mentioned over the top warmth has decreased cassava yields, worsening the industrial hardship his circle of relatives faces.
Conflicting flare information
Frontier Oil instructed PREMIUM TIMES its fuel flaring declined continuously between 2021 and 2024, however govt information provide a unique image.
An research of NEITI oil and fuel stories, along side NUPRC operational stories, displays that flare volumes fell in 2023 however rose in 2024 by way of 59.4 in keeping with cent in comparison to the former yr, when operators have been anticipated to be enforcing flare-reduction measures.
The corporate’s methane emissions adopted a unique pattern. Reported emissions peaked at 40.95 million kilogrammes in 2022 prior to declining in next years.
Frontier Oil attributed the spike in flare volumes to strangely top related fuel manufacturing from a brand new oil smartly, which exceeded the processing capability of its compressors and led to greater flaring. The corporate mentioned compressor upgrades, decrease manufacturing, and stepped forward upkeep due to this fact decreased emissions.
Startling admission
Frontier Oil additionally said that it didn’t publish fugitive methane emission stories required beneath the Gasoline Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions Rules between 2021 and Would possibly 2026. In line with the corporate, in spite of the non-compliance, the NUPRC neither issued a understand of violation nor imposed any sanction.
The rules required operators to publish a Flare Removing and Monetisation Plan inside of six months of the rules being signed in Would possibly 2023.
Frontier Oil mentioned it submitted its plan in 2025, about two years after the closing date, and that it has but to obtain approval from the NUPRC. In consequence, the corporate mentioned it has now not done the necessary Milestone Construction Settlement.
It additionally instructed PREMIUM TIMES it gained no penalty or regulatory directive over the overdue submission or its failure to document fugitive methane emission stories.
Larger duty query
Ago Umuechem, Mbodo, Ogbele, Abua/Odual, Jap Obolo and Esit Eket, citizens described an identical issues, together with over the top warmth, declining farm yields and suspected well being results hooked up to fuel flaring.
Executive information reviewed by way of PREMIUM TIMES additionally displays that flare volumes greater at a number of generating property all over the length operators have been anticipated to cut back regimen flaring.
3 corporations, Heirs Energies, Aradel Holdings and Sterling Oil, failed to offer key environmental information asked by way of this newspaper. Frontier Oil replied, however its disclosures published some obvious regulatory non-compliance that attracted no identified enforcement motion.
Total, the findings on this tale level to a query larger than the habits of person oil corporations. If operators can omit statutory points in time, fail to publish obligatory environmental stories, and proceed to extend fuel flaring with none identified regulatory penalties, the place has Nigeria’s enforcement device failed?
Section Two of this investigation examines the function of the NUPRC and the government, uncovering how regulatory delays, vulnerable oversight and deficient enforcement have undermined one among Nigeria’s maximum formidable environmental regulations.
This tale is supported by way of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Construction (CJID).
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