Nearly nine in 10 Nigerian adults now back action to cut methane emissions, a 17-point jump from a year earlier, as flooding and water problems make climate change harder to ignore, according to a new poll seen by BusinessDay.
Support for reducing methane rose to 89 percent from 72 percent in 2024, the survey by the Global Methane Hub and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found.
More than half of Nigerians, 53 percent, said they are very concerned about climate change, and 69 percent believe human activity causes it.
Some 67 percent are very concerned about poor water quality, 60 percent each about flooding and access to drinking water, and 55 percent about air quality.
Findings showed heavy rains in July triggered widespread flooding across parts of Nigeria, including Lagos, and authorities warned that 27 states could be affected. Officials later put 14 states on flood alert.
“As flooding and water challenges put greater pressure on communities across Nigeria, the case for tackling methane is becoming increasingly clear,” said Marcelo Mena, chief executive officer of the Global Methane Hub.
He said cutting leaks, venting and flaring in oil and gas would also make Nigerian crude and gas more competitive, because buyers in Europe increasingly want lower-methane supply.
Methane is a short-lived pollutant more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide over 20 years. It accounts for roughly 30 percent of warming since preindustrial times.
Cutting human-caused emissions 45 percent this decade could avert nearly 0.3 degrees Celsius of warming by 2045, according to the hub.
Industry in the Spotlight
Nigerians see the oil and gas industry as both culprit and potential fix. About 57 percent rank the sector among the top three entities to blame for climate change, yet 78 percent say it is very capable of making meaningful changes. Respondents also named corruption as a barrier to enforcing environmental rules.
Support for cuts is broad across sectors. Some 88 percent back lower methane emissions from energy production and from waste disposal, and 84 percent want cuts from agriculture. About 64 percent of respondents said they are familiar with methane.
Tengi George-Ikoli, Nigeria country manager at the Natural Resource Governance Institute, said the Niger Delta already bears costs from methane-related harm.
“Communities are justified in calling for stronger enforcement of environmental regulations and for clear mechanisms to prevent, mitigate and respond to methane-related harm,” she said.
As Nigeria expands its use of gas, she added, cutting methane must remain a priority to protect vulnerable populations and help meet climate commitments.
Global picture
The online survey covered 12,189 adults in 18 countries, including at least 700 in Nigeria. The other countries were Brazil, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Paraguay, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the U.K. and Uruguay.
Across all of them, 85 percent support action on methane. Backing was highest in South Korea at 94 percent, followed by Malaysia at 91 percent, China and Brazil at 90 percent, and Nigeria and South Africa at 89 percent. People who report experiencing more climate impacts were more likely to support action.
“Understanding what people know and think is essential to effective public communication and policymaking,” said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale program. He said the data can help identify knowledge gaps and strengthen communication campaigns.
Melissa Bell, senior vice president for research at Global Strategy Group, the hub’s survey partner, said respondents “expect those with the greatest ability to make a difference to take responsibility.”
The Global Methane Hub, which says it has raised more than $500 million from over 20 climate philanthropies, argues that no country can tackle methane alone because the gas crosses borders.
Dipo Oladehinde is a skilled energy analyst with experience across Nigeria's energy sector alongside relevant know-how about Nigeria’s macro economy. He provides a blend of market intelligence, financial analysis, industry insight, micro and macro-level analysis of a wide range of local and international issues as well as informed technical rudiments for policy-making and private directions.
