Edo — A Benin High Court yesterday decided that Shell must stop gas flaring in the Iwherekan community in Delta State, by April 2007.

Shell's Managing Director, and the Nigerian Minister for Petroleum were mandated to appear before the judge on May 31, in Benin City, with detailed plans for ending gas flaring.

In an earlier judgement on November 14, 2005, ordered SPDC, and NNPC, to stop gas flaring in the Niger Delta, as gas flaring violates guaranteed constitutional rights to life and dignity.

Flaring in the community has continued, despite the November judgment in favour of local resident, Mr Jonah Gbemre, and the Iwherekan community.

Nigeria has been the world's biggest gas flarer, and the practice has contributed more greenhouse gas emissions than all other sources in sub-Saharan Africa combined.

The practice costs Nigeria about US$2.5 billion annually, while about 66 per cent of its population live on less than $1 a day. SPDC has said it does not plan to stop flaring before the end of 2009.

In reaction to the judgement, Reverend Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, said, "we consider this ruling as another milestone in the tortuous road to victory.

What happened today was the throwing of a long rope to Shell, hoping that they would for once toe the line of obedience to court orders. We expected Shell's application to be rejected, since the High Court had earlier ruled that gas flaring is illegal and criminal. As it stands, we urge Shell to respect this ruling by ensuring that its representative appear before the judge and that they show the world their detailed plan of action to stop gas flaring by April 2007.