Ben Bruce asks senate to summon Kachikwu over gas flaring

Ben Murray-Bruce, a senator from Bayelsa east, has asked the senate to summon Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, to explain why gas flaring has not been stopped.

According to Justice in Nigeria Now, an environmental organisation,  “gas flaring is the burning of natural gas that is associated with crude oil when it is pumped up from the ground”.

Murray-Bruce, who was making his contribution to a debate on a bill seeking to address climate change, also asked the senate to summon Amina Mohammed, minister of environment, to explain the steps her ministry was taking to address climate change.

“I think the minister of petroleum should be summoned here to explain what he is doing about gas flaring. The minister of environment should also be summoned to explain what she is doing about climate change,” he said.

“This is a very serious issue.”

The bill, which was presented by Isah Misau, a senator from Bauchi central, was debated for at least 45 minutes at the upper legislative chamber.

Some of the senators who contributed to the debate were Dino Melaye, from Kogi west, and Sabi Abdullahi, senate spokesman. They all spoke in favour of the bill.

After listening to the arguments, all in favour of the bill, Bukola Saraki; senate president, put it to voice vote to which lawmakers voted for its passage to second reading.

Saraki, afterwards, referred the bill to the committee on environment, and directed it to submit its report in four weeks.

The bill seeks “measures to address climate change with a view to achieving a sustainable future for the country; to set targets to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within Nigeria to promote the use of renewable sources of energy; to promote business and community understanding about issues surrounding climate change, and to facilitate the early development of policies and programmes to address climate change.”