Nigeria’s Maritime Sector Takes Center Stage at COP 30 with Decarbonization Initiative

Nigeria’s Maritime Sector Takes Centre Stage at COP 30 with Decarbonization Initiative

By Prince Benson Davies

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has taken a significant step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector by showcasing a pioneering Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for African maritime decarbonization at the 2025 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 30) in Brazil. The Agency’s Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, was represented by the Director, Marine Environment Management Department, Dr. Oma Ofodile, who highlighted NIMASA’s commitment to advancing the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) energy transition strategies through digital innovation. The Nigerian Maritime Continuous Emissions Monitoring System, developed in collaboration with the University College London (UCL), was formally presented at the event, demonstrating Nigeria’s readiness to achieve a low-carbon shipping and maritime sector.

According to her, NIMASA has been at the forefront of coordinated efforts in advancing the IMO energy transition strategies through digital innovation that is expected to transform ambition into measurable progress.

At COP 28, NIMASA launched the need for African Coalition in achieving the IMO GHG emissions reduction strategies while at COP 29, the Agency brought together expert panel discussants, and presented the Agency’s efforts toward having a verifiable Nigerian maritime emissions inventory, which was done in collaboration with University College London (UCL) research group, aimed at preparing and showing Nigeria’s readiness towards achieving a low carbon shipping and maritime sector.

At COP 30 this year, NIMASA formally presented the Nigerian Maritime Continuous Emissions Monitoring System developed in collaboration with a team of researchers from the UCL and actively discussed tangible efforts of the Agency in advancing the IMO energy transition strategies.

Speaking at the event, the representative of the IMO Secretary General, Mr. Roel Hoeders commended the Agency for putting together the novel session to deepen discussion and provide a strategic outlook on how Africa can navigate the challenges of shipping energy transition.

The side event featured expert speakers from IMO, University College London (UCL), Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania maritime administrations, Lagos State Ministries of Planning and Budget, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) among others.

A key expectation for UNFCCC COP 30 is to reach agreement on indicators for measuring progress towards the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) that was established in the Paris Agreement. This would be the culmination of a process meant to narrow down a set of 100 indicators that match the 11 targets of the 2023 GGA Framework.