In a historic victory for transparency and environmental justice, the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Nigerian government to release comprehensive data on gas flaring by oil and gas companies operating across the country. The judgment followed a compelling lawsuit by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), aimed at holding the government accountable for withholding crucial environmental information.
Presiding over Suit No. FHC/L/CS/251/2021, Justice A.O. Faji issued an order of mandamus compelling the President of Nigeria and the Minister of Finance to disclose detailed records of gas flaring activities between 2015 and 2020. The court mandated the release of the following critical information:
The identities of all oil and gas companies involved in gas flaring
The volumes of gas flared by each company
The financial penalties due from the companies
The actual amounts paid within the specified five-year period
Justice Faji firmly upheld HEDA’s arguments, asserting that access to this data is vital for public accountability, responsible governance, and the protection of environmental rights. The judge rejected attempts by the government’s legal team to quash the case, ruling that the application was both timely and meritorious.
The lawsuit was triggered by the federal government’s consistent failure to respond to multiple Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Ministry of Finance — a refusal that violated Nigeria’s transparency obligations under national and international law.
Reacting to the groundbreaking verdict, HEDA Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, described the ruling as a “watershed moment” in the fight for environmental accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
> “This is a precedent-setting judgment. It affirms the power of civic engagement and the relevance of the judiciary in defending public interest and environmental rights,” Suraju declared.
He emphasized that the ruling represents a major blow to impunity in the oil and gas industry, and a significant boost to anti-corruption efforts nationwide. “With this decision, the government can no longer shield environmental offenders. The time of opaque dealings and unremitted penalties is over,” he added.
Suraju vowed that HEDA will push relentlessly for full enforcement of the court’s order, including the publication of all relevant data and the prosecution of companies that flouted environmental laws without consequence. He also called for gas flaring penalties to be redirected into projects that promote climate adaptation, environmental rehabilitation, and sustainable development.
In a call to action, HEDA urged civil society groups, investigative journalists, the international community, and environmental activists to unite in demanding transparency and accountability from both the Nigerian government and multinational extractive firms operating within its borders.
“This judgment reaffirms the critical role of the judiciary in upholding environmental justice and protecting citizens’ right to information, especially when public institutions fail to act in good faith,” HEDA noted.
As Nigeria grapples with the devastating impact of climate change and environmental degradation, this ruling sends a resounding message: the era of silence and secrecy around environmental crimes is coming to an end.
PIONEER NEWS 