Nigeria will introduce a total ban on gas flaring, the environmentally hazardous practice of burning gas extracted together with oil. Nigeria's minister of state for foreign affairs Bagudu Hirse told reporters in Abuja, that January 2010 has been set as the deadline for ending the practice in the country.He said the end on gas flaring would also help Nigeria save gas to meet its worsening energy needs and also meet demands for the West African gas pipeline as well as the Trans-Saharan gas project.According to the constitution of the country, gas flaring is illegal but big oil companies have been granted exemptions from the government.The minister, however, said with the present situation there would be no exclusion from the rule. Nigeria has gas reserves of about 183 trillion cubic feet and ranks the seventh in the world. A gas pipeline that would cost 30 billion dollars has been planned to provide gas to domestic users in Europe. The pipeline will be build across the Sahara Desert.