The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to provide regulatory leadership, technical coordination and sustained stakeholder engagement toward the development and implementation of a robust National Action Plan on maritime decarbonization in Nigeria.
This assurance was given by the Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, during a National Stakeholders’ Workshop convened to kick-start the development of a National Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan under the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Project. The DG described the workshop as a critical milestone in translating the Federal Government’s Blue Economy vision and climate objectives into actionable outcomes within the maritime sector.
Represented at the event by the Executive Director, Operations, Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, Dr. Mobereola underscored the strategic importance of the GreenVoyage2050 Project, a technical cooperation initiative designed to support developing countries in implementing the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategy of the International Maritime Organization.
According to him, the National Action Plan under development will be tailored to Nigeria’s specific realities, leverage existing institutional and technical capacities, address identified gaps, and align with the broader economic and environmental priorities of the Federal Government. He stressed that the transition to low-carbon shipping is not merely about meeting international compliance requirements but about safeguarding the marine environment, protecting public health, strengthening the blue economy and ensuring that Nigeria’s maritime industry remains competitive and future-ready.
Dr. Mobereola further noted that effective decarbonization of the maritime sector would position Nigeria to attract green investments, stimulate innovation, and enhance the long-term sustainability of shipping and port operations across the country.
Also speaking at the workshop, the Technical Manager of the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Project, Astrid Dispert, said the overarching objective of the initiative is to advance a coherent and globally aligned regulatory framework capable of accelerating maritime decarbonization. She emphasized that NIMASA plays a pivotal role in driving the project at the national level, particularly through policy coordination, capacity building and stakeholder mobilisation.
Dispert explained that the GreenVoyage2050 Project provides technical expertise and institutional support to assist countries in developing and implementing National Action Plans that promote sustainable shipping practices, encourage investment in clean and alternative technologies, and strengthen institutional capacity for long-term emissions reduction.
Through the collaboration between NIMASA, the IMO and industry stakeholders, the Federal Government is taking deliberate steps toward maritime decarbonization, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to global climate goals while laying the foundation for a cleaner, greener and more sustainable maritime future.
