Nearly 90 per cent of Nigerian adults assist measures to cut back methane emissions, one of essentially the most potent greenhouse gases contributing to world warming, a brand new survey has discovered.
The determine represents a 17-percentage-point improve from the 72 per cent recorded in 2024. The survey additionally discovered that greater than half (53 per cent) of Nigerian adults are very involved about local weather change.
The Global Methane Hub (GMH) commissioned the survey in collaboration with the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC), and it was printed on 29 October.
Conducted throughout Nigeria and 17 different nations, the worldwide survey sought to measure public consciousness of local weather change and methane emissions, and to look at attitudes in direction of options for lowering methane air pollution.
The findings present that concern is even higher concerning quick environmental threats. About 67 per cent of Nigerian respondents stated they had been very involved about poor water high quality, whereas 60 per cent expressed comparable issues about flooding and entry to consuming water. Another 55 per cent had been very involved about poor air high quality.
Researchers stated the findings mirror the rising results of local weather change in Nigeria, the place more and more intense rainfall and flooding are placing communities, infrastructure and water methods in danger.
The findings additionally reinforce issues PREMIUM TIMES has repeatedly highlighted about methane emissions throughout Nigeria’s oil and gasoline sector and their penalties for the lives and livelihoods of communities in oil-producing areas.
Nigeria faces important methane emission challenges, largely pushed by oil and gasoline manufacturing, routine gasoline flaring, venting and ageing infrastructure. Concerns have additionally continued over the enforcement of rules governing gasoline flaring and methane emissions.
Methane leaks and routine gasoline flaring within the Niger Delta have been linked to environmental air pollution, contamination of native water sources, injury to farmlands and respiratory well being dangers.
In Bille, Rivers State, as an illustration, extreme methane effervescent and contamination of water wells have reportedly created acute well being and security issues for residents.
The continued burning and venting of related gasoline additionally represents a major financial loss, as billions of cubic ft of gasoline that might in any other case be captured and commercialised are wasted yearly.
Growing environmental issues
In July, heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding throughout components of Nigeria, together with Lagos, as saturated soils elevated the danger of flash floods. Authorities additionally warned that 27 states may very well be affected.
As the wet season intensified, authorities subsequently positioned 14 states on flood alert, highlighting the rising dangers going through communities already battling flooding, deteriorating water high quality and restricted entry to protected consuming water.
Methane is a short-lived local weather pollutant and one of the simplest targets for slowing world warming within the close to time period. It is greater than 80 instances as potent as carbon dioxide over 20 years.
Reducing methane emissions can even ship important public well being and financial advantages, together with improved air high quality and diminished air pollution publicity.
“As flooding and water challenges put greater pressure on communities across Nigeria, the case for tackling methane is becoming increasingly clear,” stated Marcelo Mena, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Methane Hub.
“This survey exhibits sturdy and rising assist for methane motion, with almost 9 in ten Nigerians now supporting efforts to cut back emissions. In the oil and gasoline sector, for instance, slicing methane leaks, venting and flaring reduces air pollution and security dangers for close by communities whereas serving to gradual warming.
“It also makes Nigerian oil and gas more competitive, as buyers in markets like Europe increasingly demand lower-methane supply.”
Tengi George-Ikoli, Nigeria Country Manager on the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), stated Nigerians had authentic causes to be involved about methane emissions and their results on well being, the atmosphere and livelihoods.
“Nigerians are right to be concerned about methane emissions and the harm they cause to health, environments and livelihoods,” she stated.
“In components of the Niger Delta, these prices are already being felt, so communities are justified in calling for stronger enforcement of environmental rules and for clear mechanisms to stop, mitigate and reply to methane-related hurt.
“As Nigeria expands its use of gas, reducing methane emissions must remain a priority to support liveable communities, protect vulnerable populations and help the country meet its climate commitments.”
Anthony Leiserowitz, Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, stated understanding public consciousness and perceptions was important to efficient communication and policymaking.
“Understanding what people know and think is essential to effective public communication and policymaking,” he stated.
“Methane discount is one of the quickest methods to restrict world warming, making it crucial that the general public understands each the problem and the options.
“This research helps provide the data needed to identify public knowledge gaps, strengthen communication campaigns, and help informed citizens participate in these climate change solutions.”
Key findings of the survey
The survey discovered that 69 per cent of Nigerian respondents consider local weather change is attributable to human actions, whereas 89 per cent assist measures to cut back methane emissions.
It additionally discovered that almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of respondents had been accustomed to methane.
Oil and gasoline corporations had been recognized as each important contributors to local weather change and essential actors succesful of addressing it.
About 57 per cent of respondents ranked oil and gasoline corporations among the many three entities most chargeable for local weather change, whereas 78 per cent thought of them very succesful of making significant modifications.
Nigerians need industries to deal with local weather change
The findings present broad assist for lowering methane emissions throughout the three main sectors chargeable for most human-caused methane air pollution: agriculture, waste and vitality.
In agriculture, 84 per cent of respondents supported efforts to minimise methane emissions, whereas 88 per cent backed measures to cut back emissions from waste disposal.
Similarly, 88 per cent supported lowering methane emissions from vitality manufacturing.
Overall, the 89 per cent assist for methane discount matched the proportion of respondents who backed broader local weather motion.
The report stated the findings reveal widespread public assist for industry-led interventions and stronger environmental protections.
It additionally famous that Nigerians see corruption as a serious impediment to implementing environmental rules successfully.
With sturdy majorities supporting methane discount throughout all three sectors, the report stated policymakers and industries have a chance to advance options that scale back air pollution whereas strengthening environmental accountability.
Global assist for methane discount stays sturdy
The worldwide survey coated 18 nations throughout 4 continents: Brazil, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Paraguay, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.
The on-line survey gathered responses from 12,189 adults, together with no less than 700 respondents in Nigeria.
Participants had been requested questions on their perceptions of local weather change, environmental issues, consciousness of methane emissions and assist for particular insurance policies to cut back methane air pollution.
Across the nations surveyed, 85 per cent of respondents supported motion to cut back methane emissions, indicating widespread worldwide backing for efforts to deal with the pollutant.
Support was significantly sturdy in Asia, Africa and Latin America, reaching 94 per cent in South Korea, 91 per cent in Malaysia, 90 per cent in China and Brazil, and 89 per cent in Nigeria and South Africa.
The findings additionally confirmed that respondents who reported experiencing higher local weather change impacts had been extra prone to assist measures to cut back methane emissions.
Across areas, respondents expressed concern in regards to the tangible results of local weather change of their communities, together with excessive warmth, wildfires, drought, flooding and deteriorating water high quality.
Waste emerged as a very outstanding space for methane discount in a number of nations, alongside sturdy assist for interventions within the vitality and agriculture sectors.
The report additional highlighted public expectations for governments and industries to take higher accountability for lowering methane emissions.
Why lowering methane is crucial to tackling local weather change
The report described methane discount as one of the quickest methods to gradual world warming within the close to time period.
Methane accounts for about 30 per cent of the warming skilled since pre-industrial instances and is greater than 80 instances as highly effective as carbon dioxide over 20 years.
Unlike carbon dioxide, which may stay within the ambiance for hundreds of years, most methane breaks down inside roughly a decade.
According to the report, slicing human-caused methane emissions by 45 per cent this decade might forestall almost 0.3 levels Celsius of warming by 2045, serving to to maintain worldwide local weather commitments inside attain.
Reducing methane emissions would additionally enhance air high quality, shield agricultural manufacturing, create jobs, strengthen meals methods, scale back well being dangers, and enhance group resilience.
The report careworn that as a result of methane air pollution crosses nationwide borders, coordinated motion amongst governments, companies, researchers and communities is crucial to attaining important reductions.
Melissa Bell, Senior Vice President of Research at Global Strategy Group, GMH’s analysis associate, stated the constant findings throughout nations demonstrated sustained public assist for methane discount.
“The consistency of these findings sends a clear signal: support for reducing methane emissions is strong and sustained,” she stated.
“People are concerned about the impacts of climate change, they support action across the major sources of methane emissions, and they expect those with the greatest ability to make a difference to take responsibility.”
Survey methodology
Global Strategy Group performed the 10-minute on-line survey between 3 and 25 August 2026. The questionnaire was translated into 13 languages and administered throughout Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
READ ALSO: Nigeria renews 2030 gas flaring pledge despite enforcement, methane monitoring gaps
Responses had been collected from adults aged 18 and above who at present reside within the collaborating nations and have web entry.
The researchers utilized weights for age, gender, geographical location, and schooling to make sure the samples represented adults with web entry in every nation.
At least 700 responses had been collected in 15 nations, together with Nigeria, South Africa, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Morocco, Brazil, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
The margin of error was ±3.7 per cent in these nations, besides Morocco and Brazil, the place it was ±3.6 per cent.
In Ethiopia, Paraguay and Uruguay, no less than 400 responses had been collected, with margins of error of ±4.9 per cent, ±4.5 per cent and ±3.9 per cent, respectively.
Discover extra from Premium Times Nigeria
Subscribe to get the most recent posts despatched to your e mail.
