batch-1794409732 1794409732 Global Insights Law Journal publisher@gilawjournal.com Global Insights Law Journal Global Insights Law Journal 3141-5717 2026 1 3 Tony Francis 0009-0007-1527-1208 Onumbu Ann This paper examined gas flaring penalties under Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, with particular focus on compliance, enforcement, and climate accountability. The paper adopted the doctrinal research method, relying on the analysis of statutes, regulations, case laws, policy documents, and relevant academic literature relating to gas flaring regulation in Nigeria. The paper found that the Petroleum Industry Act significantly improved the legal framework on gas flaring by introducing stricter compliance requirements, higher penalties, mandatory gas utilization plans, and enhanced regulatory powers for monitoring and enforcement. The paper also found that while the PIA established a framework that could support climate accountability, particularly through emission reduction obligations and gas utilization requirements, the absence of strong climate reporting obligations, transparent emissions data, and clear environmental remediation mechanisms limited the effectiveness of the Act in achieving full climate accountability. The paper concluded that the Petroleum Industry Act represented a significant step toward strengthening gas flaring regulation, improving compliance, and promoting environmental protection in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. However, the effectiveness of gas flaring penalties under the Act depended largely on strong enforcement, institutional capacity, transparent monitoring systems, and integration of climate accountability mechanisms into petroleum regulation. Therefore, it was recommended that to improve compliance, the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission and other relevant agencies should invest in advanced real time gas flaring monitoring technologies. Secondly, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission should establish strict timelines for penalty imposition and prevent protracted litigation. 2026 11 5 10.67588/0013 https://gilawjournal.com/article/legal-assessment-of-the-regulatory-framework-on-combating-gas-flaring-and-fugitive-gas-emissions-in-nigeria Accountability Combating gas flaring fugitive emission