Background

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas with significant warming potential compared to CO2, poses a major threat to the health and well-being of current and future generations and climate protection goals. Reducing methane emissions, particularly from Nigeria's oil and gas sector, offers a strategic opportunity. By taking action, Nigeria can not only strengthen climate action but also unlock co-benefits for public health, food security, and economic development, aligning with national and multiple other sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Against this background, APRI - Africa Policy Research Institute - in close collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria, is organizing a stakeholder engagement event in the context of an ongoing project on methane mitigation and reduction in Nigeria's oil and gas sector. The project was selected with advice from the Global Methane Initiative and is funded in part by the Government of Canada through Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Objective

The overarching objective of the workshop is to introduce the project to relevant stakeholders and gather feedback on the initial findings from our mapping exercise, which maps out the methane landscape, including mitigation and reduction policies, implementation strategies, the state of financing, and stakeholders involved in these efforts. After initial inputs and a presentation of the summary of the key findings, participants will discuss and assess the status, gaps, challenges, and opportunities for effective and sustained methane mitigation and reduction efforts as well as identify areas where more data and information is needed to inform and support methane action policy and implementation strategies, specifically in the oil and gas sectors. This event also aims to foster collaboration, identify ways to address challenges and chart a unified course toward sustainable and effective methane mitigation and reduction in Nigeria.

The Speakers

Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Honourable Minister of Environment, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria

Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Honourable Minister of State for Environment, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria

Mahmud Adam Kambari, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria

Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria

Dr. Mohammed Dahiru Aminu, Africa Policy Manager, Methane Pollution Prevention, Clean Air Task Force

Dr. Grace Mbungu, Head of Climate Change Program, APRI

Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim Mahmoud, Senior Climate Change Fellow, APRI

Moderation

Bayo Adekoje, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria