Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to achieving net-zero shipping emissions in line with the International Maritime Organization 2023 GHG Strategy.
Speaking at the IMO/GreenVoyage2050 National Stakeholder Workshop in Lagos on Tuesday, Oyetola said that Nigeria had taken a decisive step toward maritime decarbonisation.
He explained that the development of the National Maritime Decarbonisation Action Plan would align Nigeria with global climate goals while strengthening the sector’s competitiveness.
The minister, who was represented at the event by the Director of Maritime Safety and Security, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, John Ogwuche, said, “The initiative will support emissions reduction in shipping through technical collaboration and stakeholder engagement.”
He urged shipowners, port authorities, oil and gas operators, ministries, departments, and agencies to drive collective action, saying, “Nigeria must seize emerging opportunities in the global green maritime transition.”
In her remarks, the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Programme Manager, Ms Astrid Dispert, stated that compliant shipping companies will be rewarded according to the Marine Environment Protection Committee, while non-compliant shipping companies will be penalised.
She stressed that maritime nations that fail to decarbonise will be left behind.
Dispert equally emphasised that Nigerian seafarers must be trained in line with the changes and opportunities that emerge with the energy transitions that net zero brings.
She recommended that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, in collaboration with Nigerian maritime stakeholders, explore short-, medium-, and long-term measures to decarbonise shipping.
“There is a net-zero target, which is zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Nigerian government must have a plan to support the industry’s bid for decarbonisation,” she added.
The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr Tenioye Majekodunmi, assured the council’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s participation in the IMO GreenVoyage2050 programme and to securing a resilient, competitive, and climate-aligned maritime future for Nigeria.
“I commend NIMASA for its leadership, particularly as Nigeria begins participation in the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Programme and formally launches the development of a National Action Plan on maritime decarbonisation. The global shipping industry is undergoing structural transformation. With the IMO’s enhanced climate ambition and evolving global trade standards, maritime decarbonisation is no longer optional; it is a competitiveness imperative. As a major maritime nation in West Africa, Nigeria must position itself strategically within this transition,” she said.
Earlier, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, posited that the success of this National Action Plan hinges on the diverse expertise, practical insights, and collaborative spirit of stakeholders.
“Nigeria’s participation is not just about compliance; it is about safeguarding our environment, protecting public health, and fostering sustainable economic growth. It is about ensuring that Nigeria remains a competitive and responsible player on the global maritime stage,” he added.
GIK/APA