Nigeria advances plans for a National Action Plan on maritime decarbonization
Nigeria is taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its maritime sector by launching the development of a National Action Plan (NAP) aligned with the IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy.
Led by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in partnership with the International Maritime Organization’s GreenVoyage2050 Programme, the process was formally initiated at a national stakeholders’ workshop held last week in Lagos. The event convened representatives from government ministries, shipowners, port authorities, the oil and gas sector, academia and development partners.
Director of NIMASA, Dr Oma Ofodile, described the workshop as a strategic milestone for the country:
“The development of Nigeria’s National Action Plan represents a critical step in our journey towards a low-carbon maritime future. This is not intended to be a generic document. It must be firmly grounded in Nigeria’s realities, reflecting our national priorities while responding to global climate commitments. For a maritime nation such as Nigeria, decarbonization is not only about reducing emissions. It is about protecting our marine environment, strengthening trade competitiveness, fostering innovation and creating sustainable employment opportunities.”
Over 120 participants engaged in interactive sessions examining policy options across shipping, ports and energy systems. Discussions focused on strengthening regulatory frameworks, exploring alternative fuel pathways, mobilizing financing, enhancing port efficiency and building capacity for seafarers and maritime administrators to support implementation of the future NAP.
Astrid Dispert, Manager of the GreenVoyage2050 Programme at IMO, underscored Nigeria’s regional role:
“Nigeria’s commitment to developing a National Action Plan demonstrates forward-looking leadership. With coordinated action and strategic investment, the country can harness the transition to low- and zero-carbon shipping to drive economic growth and develop the skills required for the maritime jobs of tomorrow.”
Inspiring future maritime professionals
In addition to policy discussions, the GreenVoyage2050 team engaged directly with young people, delivering sessions at the International School of Lagos and the University of Lagos. Around 60 students participated in discussions on maritime decarbonization, green technologies and emerging career pathways in sustainable shipping.
The outreach highlighted the growing demand for expertise in areas such as alternative fuels, environmental compliance, port digitalization and maritime policy, encouraging students to consider careers in a sector undergoing rapid transformation.
As a next step, Nigeria will work with national stakeholders to identify and address key data gaps in order to deliver a comprehensive baseline assessment of maritime emissions, infrastructure readiness and policy frameworks to inform the development of the NAP.
GreenVoyage2050 Programme
GreenVoyage2050 is a technical cooperation programme initiated by IMO to assist developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping.
Now in its second phase (2024-2030), GreenVoyage2050 supports developing countries in designing and implementing national GHG-reduction strategies and piloting low-carbon technologies, with funding from several donor governments including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway.
