Gas-Flaring Practice in Nigeria and its Impacts on Global Warming: Need for Immediate Government Intervention

Abstract

Global warning has taken every corner of the globe by storm. It's harmful effects have been discussed and documented in studies, statements and reports scientists of different backgrounds, geographical and disciplines. Yet statesmen whose primary duties they are to initiate and implement programmes to curb, at least, if not completely eliminate the harmful effects tend to be unconcerned, or at most playing lip service to the issue. Gas flaring in Nigeria with its harmful effects started in the 1950s when oil exploration began. Studies have shown that Nigeria is the world's worst gas farer. It is estimated that about 2.5 billion cubic feet (about 70 percent) of the 3.5 billion cubic feet gas produced annually in Nigeria are wasted by flaring. Successive Nigerian governments have not made concerted efforts to stop gas flaring. How has gas flaring in Nigeria contributed to global warming/climate change? What would Nigerian government do to completely stop gas flaring and thus its attendant harmful effects? Addressing these questions is the major plunge of this paper.