The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has stepped up efforts to achieve Nigeria’s 60 per cent methane emissions reduction target by 2035 with the deployment of a digital tracking platform designed to strengthen emissions monitoring, reporting and regulatory enforcement across the oil and gas industry.
The platform, known as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Emission Tracker (NOGIET), was formally handed over to the Commission at its headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
According to a statement by NUPRC Spokesperson, Eniola Akinkuotu, the initiative is expected to improve the accuracy and credibility of methane emissions data through the integration of satellite-based detection technology, regulatory mapping and facility-level emissions measurements.
The Commission Chief Executive, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, who was represented at the handover ceremony by the Executive Commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Captain John Tonlagha, said the platform was part of efforts to intensify the implementation of the Commission’s 2022 Guidelines for the Management of Fugitive Methane and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Upstream Oil and Gas Sector.
READ ALSO:
- Nigeria to Unlock $50bn Oil, Gas Investment With Offshore Reforms
- NUPRC Explores Petroleum Swap Deals to Boost Domestic Crude Supply
- NMDPRA Unveils Mobile App to Track Fuel Usage in Real-Time
The guidelines require oil and gas operators to move from estimation-based to measurement-based emissions reporting by the first quarter of 2027.
Eyesan said NOGIET aligned with the Commission’s digital transformation agenda and Nigeria’s broader commitments to reducing methane emissions, eliminating routine gas flaring and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
According to her, the platform integrates satellite-based methane plume detection, regulatory mapping of oil blocks and pipelines, as well as facility-level emissions measurements to enable regulators to identify emission hotspots, detect inconsistencies in reported data and prioritise regulatory inspections.
She added that its integration into the Commission’s regulatory monitoring and data management systems would strengthen the credibility, consistency and reliability of emissions data.
The platform was developed through a partnership involving the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), with financial and technical support from the Global Methane Hub (GMH).
Designed for use by both the NUPRC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the tracker is expected to promote a coordinated approach to methane management across the entire oil and gas value chain.
The NUPRC chief commended the Global Methane Hub for its financial and technical support, while acknowledging SDN’s leadership and coordination in delivering the initiative.
Speaking at the event, SDN Board Chairman, Mr Inemo Samiama, said the platform’s capacity to compare satellite observations with facility-level measurements would enable regulators to identify discrepancies in emissions reports and take evidence-based enforcement actions.
He disclosed that SDN had handed over the platform, including its front-end and back-end components, to the Commission at no cost.
Samiama said NOGIET would be transferred from its temporary hosting address, nogiet.ng, to a subdomain owned by the Commission.
He stressed that the platform was designed to cover the entire oil and gas industry, noting that methane emissions management required cooperation between upstream and downstream regulators.
“Because methane does not stop at the boundary between upstream and downstream, NOGIET is designed as one platform for the whole oil and gas sector,” he said.
The deployment comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to curb methane emissions from its petroleum operations, improve environmental accountability and strengthen compliance with international climate commitments.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X