CSOs demand end to gas flaring impunity

Joseph Etido

Civil society organisations under the Akwa Ibom Extractive Justice Alliance (AKEJA) have demanded greater accountability from oil firms over gas flaring in Akwa Ibom State and called for the restoration of Executive Order 9 to ensure affected communities benefit from gas flare penalties.

The coalition, comprising civil society groups, youth organisations, academics and media practitioners, made the demand during a peaceful demonstration at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Field Office in Eket on Saturday.

Speaking during the protest, the Convener of AKEJA, Mr Elkanah Oluyori of the Clement Isong Foundation, said the action formed part of a broader global movement against fossil fuel pollution and in support of environmental justice for host communities impacted by gas flaring.

Oluyori alleged that gas flare penalties exceeding $10.4 million accrued on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13 alone between 2021 and 2025, while an estimated $270 million in unpaid penalties remained owed to host communities in Akwa Ibom State during the same period.

He said, despite reports that oil companies paid about $646 million in gas flare penalties nationwide in 2025, flaring activities had continued at alarming levels.

“Communities in Iko Town, Elekpon, Akpabom and Atabrikang in Eastern Obolo have experienced continuous gas flaring since NEPL/NOSL commenced production on OML 13 in May 2024.

“Eight villages in Eastern Obolo have no electricity. OML 13 contains over five trillion cubic feet of gas. The energy being burned over these communities could instead be used to power them,” he said.

Oluyori expressed concern over the environmental impact of gas flaring activities across Ibeno, Onna, Eket and Esit Eket local government areas.

He alleged that operations by Network Exploration and Production Limited in Mkpanak, Ibeno Local Government Area, had negatively affected air, water and soil quality, while coastal communities continued to face erosion and other environmental challenges.

He recalled that Seplat Energy, which acquired Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited from ExxonMobil in December 2024, now operates OMLs 67, 68, 70 and 104 in Akwa Ibom State, and urged the company and regulatory authorities to address longstanding environmental liabilities in affected communities.

The AKEJA convener also criticised the suspension of gas flare penalty remittances into the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund through Executive Order 9 signed on February 13, 2026.

Repeated efforts to reach Mr Etim Etukudo, Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the NUPRC, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to him received no response.

Correspondents observed that the protesting civil society organisations submitted a petition at the NUPRC Eket Field Office located on Ekpene Ukpa Avenue.