Gas Flaring in the Niger Delta (Chukwudumebi)

Apart from the oil spills on the Niger delta lands, the oil and gas burnt off into the atmosphere by oil companies like Shell, ExxonMobil and Elf cause local air pollution and contribute to climate change. The article says “More gas is flared in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world – in western Europe 99 per cent of associated gas is used or re-injected into the ground.” Why is this different in Nigeria? Is it because the laws and policies in Nigeria are not being implemented properly? If these oil companies have better ways of reducing the pollution, why are they not doing the right thing? The flares contain toxins such as benzene that can cause respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis. I really don’t know who is to be blamed more; the government or these oil companies but we can’t keep pointing fingers at each other. We all have to work together as a country to reduce the pollution in our atmosphere.
Referencehttp://www.platformlondon.org/carbonweb/showitem.asp?article=113&parent=73&link=Y&gp=3