By Oluyinka Onigbinde
A foremost maritime lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Jean Chiazor Anishere, has called on African nations to harmonise maritime regulations, accelerate investment in green port infrastructure and strengthen maritime institutions to position the continent for the global transition to sustainable shipping.
Anishere made the call on Thursday while speaking at a policy dialogue during the two-day regional conference of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria in Lagos.
The conference, themed “From Policy to Implementation: Women Advancing Africa’s Blue Economy through Sustainable Shipping, Trade and Energy Innovation,” brought together policymakers, maritime professionals and industry stakeholders to explore strategies for driving sustainable growth in Africa’s maritime sector.
Speaking on the future of Africa’s maritime industry, Anishere said fragmented regulatory frameworks across the continent continue to create operational bottlenecks, increase compliance costs and discourage investment in maritime transport and shipping.
She stressed that African countries must move beyond isolated national policies by adopting harmonised environmental and port regulations aligned with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards to improve efficiency, lower business costs and enhance the continent’s competitiveness in global shipping.
According to her, a unified regulatory framework would provide greater certainty for investors while facilitating seamless maritime operations and fleet deployment across African waters.
She also underscored the need for governments to prioritise investment in environmentally sustainable port infrastructure through policies that encourage renewable energy use, alternative-fuel bunkering facilities, shore power systems, modern waste reception facilities and smart port technologies.
Anishere, a former President of WISTA Nigeria, noted that ports capable of supporting low-emission and cleaner vessels would emerge as preferred destinations in future global supply chains as the maritime industry continues its decarbonisation journey.
The maritime law expert further warned that Africa’s transition to green shipping could be slowed by inadequate access to green finance, climate funds, blue bonds and sustainability-linked investments.
She therefore urged governments to create fiscal incentives that would encourage private sector investment in low-carbon maritime technologies, cleaner vessels and energy-efficient port operations.
While acknowledging that many African countries have developed sound maritime policies, Anishere maintained that implementation remains the biggest challenge.
She called for stronger maritime administrations, port authorities and regulatory agencies with the institutional capacity to enforce environmental standards and drive reforms across the sector.
The Senior Advocate also identified human capital development as a critical pillar of the continent’s maritime transformation, saying future competitiveness would depend on professionals equipped with knowledge of alternative fuels, emissions monitoring, maritime technology and sustainability reporting.
She urged governments, universities and industry stakeholders to collaborate in developing the next generation of seafarers, engineers, maritime lawyers, arbitrators and policymakers capable of supporting the evolving blue economy.
Anishere further advocated integrated ocean governance, arguing that shipping, ports, fisheries, offshore energy and marine conservation should no longer be regulated independently if Africa is to maximise the economic potential of its marine resources.
According to her, harmonised regulations, investment in green port infrastructure and stronger institutions remain the three most critical reforms required to position Africa as a leading player in the global green shipping economy rather than merely participating in it.
She also highlighted the expanding role of women in the maritime industry’s transition, saying the shift towards sustainable shipping presents unprecedented opportunities for women to shape policy, regulation, technology, finance and governance.
Anishere called for deliberate mentorship programmes and increased representation of women in executive and boardroom positions, noting that greater inclusion would strengthen Africa’s capacity to drive innovation and sustainable development across the maritime sector.
