Akwa Ibom: CSOs task NUPRC on gas flare accountability, reversal of executive order 9

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Youth groups, Academia and Activists in Akwa Ibom State have petitioned the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, seeking full disclosure of gas flare penalties assessed in the state from 2021 to date.

The coalition under the Akwa Ibom Extractive Justice Alliance, AKEJA, also called for the reversal of the Presidential Executive Order 9, of February 2026, where gas flare penalty remittances were redirected to the Federation Account from the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, MDGIF.

These were among the six prayers of AKEJA in the petition submitted to NUPRC office, Eket during a peaceful demonstration held under the Strategic Partnership Agreement 11 of Clement Isong Foundation (CIF) in collaboration with Actionaid Nigeria.

The Executive Director of ClF, Elkana Oluyori said the action formed part of a broader global mobilisation against fossil fuel pollution and in support of environmental justice for host communities affected by gas flaring.

Other demands made by the coalition were: public release of gas flare elimination plans for all operating companies, a progress report on all gas capture licences issued in the State, full HCDT compliance including board composition: and the engagement with the National Assembly on the restoration of gas flare penalty remittances to the MDGIF.

According to a statement made available to Newsmen, “Gas flare penalties exceeding 10.4 million dollars became payable on Oil Mining Lease (OML)13 alone, between 2021 and 2025, while an estimated 270 million dollars in outstanding penalties were owed to host communities in Akwa Ibom within the same period.”

The coalition noted that although oil companies reportedly paid about 646 million dollars in gas flare penalties nationally in 2025, gas flaring levels remained high, indicating that penalties alone had not translated into reduced emissions.

AKEJA alleged that communities in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, including Iko Town, Elekpon, Akpabom and Atabrikang, had continued to experience gas flaring since production commenced on OML 13 in May 2024 adding that eight villages in the area remained without electricity despite the enormous gas resources available in the field.

AKEJA said it had also written to Network Exploration and Production Limited, Seplat Energy, the Akwa Ibom State Government, the National Assembly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant institutions on the issues raised adding that impacted communities would continue to pursue environmental justice and accountability through lawful means.

Speaking, the Programme Manager, NAPPDRR, Mrs Helen Eyo urged NUPRC to live up to its responsibility noting that women are the major bearers of environmental degradation.

“We need an end to all the pollution, it has impacted negatively on everyone, especially women. A lot of women in the Niger Delta suffer from cancer, infertility, respiratory tract infection etc as a result of this pollution, so NUPRC, which is the main regulator should live up to its responsibility,” she said.