A geoscientist and environmental expert, Dr. Luqman Olawale, has called on the Nigerian government and petroleum industry stakeholders to embrace Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology as a dual-purpose tool for environmental protection and economic development.
Olawale, a researcher at the University of Georgia, United States, made this appeal during a commentary on the ongoing gas flaring crisis in Nigeria, which he says is causing far more damage to health and the environment than it delivers in economic returns.
He described gas flaring—the burning of natural gas during oil extraction—as an outdated and harmful practice, and urged Nigerian authorities to urgently transition toward cleaner alternatives that align with global climate action goals.
“CCS offers Nigeria a unique opportunity to align climate goals with industrial growth. It not only reduces harmful emissions but also unlocks economic value by enhancing oil recovery and supporting critical mineral extraction,” Olawale said.
What is CCS and Why It Matters for Nigeria
According to Olawale, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) involves three main steps:
Capturing CO₂ from industrial emissions or power plants.
Transporting the captured gas via pipelines or ships.
Injecting it deep underground into geological formations like depleted oil fields or saline aquifers.
Countries like the United States and Norway are already implementing CCS as part of their net-zero emissions strategy—and Nigeria, with its abundant petroleum reserves and rich geology, is well-positioned to do the same.
Olawale emphasized that the Niger Delta and other sedimentary basins across Nigeria hold “vast untapped storage potential” that can safely accommodate CO₂ while also boosting crude oil recovery from aging wells.
Beyond Emissions: A Strategic Economic Opportunity
Crucially, Olawale stressed that CCS is not just a climate mitigation tool, but also an economic strategy. He explained that enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and in-situ leaching—a process that extracts minerals from underground—can be paired with CCS to deliver multiple benefits.
“When done right, carbon storage doesn’t just trap emissions—it generates value,” Olawale said. “Nigeria could lead in carbon storage while simultaneously strengthening its position in the global critical minerals supply chain.”
He pointed to the growing global demand for minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements—key inputs for batteries, electric vehicles, and clean energy technologies—and said Nigeria can leverage CCS infrastructure to support exploration and development of these resources.
Challenges and Call to Action
Despite Nigeria’s potential, Olawale lamented that current discussions around carbon storage remain “surface-level” and lack scientific depth, particularly regarding how CO₂ behaves underground.
“Without a clear understanding of subsurface flow and reactive transport processes, Nigeria risks poor implementation,” he warned.
Olawale’s research focuses on how CO₂ interacts with rock formations, how minerals dissolve or precipitate during injection, and how these changes affect storage security. He believes this knowledge is vital to avoid leakages, seismic risks, or infrastructure failure.
He called for:
Robust scientific research and modelling to guide policy.
Collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and industry.
Strategic integration of CCS with Nigeria’s existing energy and mining sectors.
Conclusion: A Low-Carbon Future With Economic Gains
Dr. Olawale concluded that Carbon Capture and Storage represents a transformational opportunity for Nigeria—not only to reduce emissions, but also to boost oil production, extract valuable minerals, and secure a sustainable economic future.
“This is not just about saving the environment—it’s about creating value. Nigeria can transform CCS from a cost centre into a strategic national asset,” he said.
For Nigeria to truly benefit, Olawale emphasized that time is of the essence, and that scientific understanding must inform policy frameworks, pilot projects, and large-scale implementation.
