Nigeria, June 9 -- A coalition of civil society organisations, youth groups and community advocates has accused regulators and oil firms of failing to translate hundreds of millions of dollars in gas flare penalties into environmental relief and development for host communities in Akwa Ibom State.

The coalition, operating under the Akwa Ibom Extractive Justice Alliance, staged a protest on Friday at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) office in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, demanding accountability for gas flare penalties and urgent action to address environmental degradation in oil-producing communities.

The protesters submitted a petition to the NUPRC, stating that communities hosting oil and gas operations continue...