The Federal Government is on course to achieve total gas flare-out by 2030 through ongoing commercialisation initiatives driven by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Chief Executive of NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, disclosed this during the International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology organised by the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI). He stated that the NUPRC’s flare gas commercialisation programme has positioned Nigeria to steadily meet its commitment to end gas flaring in all upstream operations by the end of the decade.
Komolafe, represented by the Executive Commissioner for Corporate Services and Administration, Dr. Kelechi Onyekachi Ofoegbu, emphasised that Nigeria’s hydrocarbon future should not be measured only by production volumes or monetisation levels but by how responsibly the country manages its resources.
He said the focus should be on governance that builds trust, attracts sustainable investment, uplifts citizens, protects the environment, and secures Nigeria’s role in the global transition to cleaner energy.
Komolafe explained that gas previously flared across various sites is now being redirected for productive use — powering homes, supporting small-scale industries, and providing cleaner cooking alternatives for millions of Nigerians.
He noted that despite Africa’s vast endowment of over 125 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and 620 trillion cubic feet of gas — with Nigeria alone holding 37.28 billion barrels of oil and 210.54 trillion cubic feet of gas — more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity.
According to him, this gap underscores the urgent need for responsible resource management and infrastructure development to ensure that the continent’s abundant energy resources translate into improved living standards and economic progress.
