Economic, environmental and public health impacts of gas flaring in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Over the past six decades, billions of cubic feet of gases associated with crude oil exploration have been flared. Unfortunately, gas flaring has continued despite successive legislative interventions, with limited implementation of effective remediation strategies in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Gas flaring involves the combustion of associated gases produced during oil extraction, which contain particulate matter (soot), carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds. These components have been linked to significant detrimental effects on diverse ecosystems and public health in the Niger Delta region. This study provides an updated overview of the impacts of gas flaring on public health in both human and animal, the local and national economies, and the Niger Delta region environment matrices, including air, soil, and water. In addition, it examines the implementation and effectiveness the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) [98] in relation to gas flaring. The novelty of the study lies in its integration of recent data with an analysis of the PIA’s enforcement gaps and its alignment with Nigeria’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Current evidence indicates that gas flaring, particularly acidic oxides, contributes to acid rain, leading to loss of fertile farmland, biodiversity decline, reduced agricultural productivity, and loss of livelihoods. It is also associated with adverse health outcomes, including respiratory diseases, cancer, skin irritation, and mental health challenges. Economically, gas flaring costs both host communities and the Nigerian economy trillions of Naira annually. Given the extensive environmental, public health, and socioeconomic consequences of gas flaring, there is an urgent need to strengthen the enforcement of existing environmental laws, policies enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), to ensure the capture and utilization of associated gases. Effective implementation of the PIA would mitigate the adverse impacts of gas flaring on the Niger Delta region’s ecosystem and communities, while enhancing national economic growth. In addition, it would support Nigeria’s efforts to achieve its NDCs and advance the attainment of the SDGs 3, 7 13 and 15. Future research should prioritize long-term environmental, epidemiological, ecological, and multidisciplinary studies to evaluate gas flaring impacts, healthcare burden, ecosystem resilience, and SDG implementation.