Nigeria’s Net-Zero Plan Key To Maritime Competitiveness – NIMASA DG, Mobereola
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has declared that Nigeria’s push toward maritime decarbonisation is critical to safeguarding the nation’s competitiveness and environmental sustainability in the evolving global shipping industry.
Mobereola made this known at the IMO/GreenVoyage2050 National Stakeholder Workshop held in Lagos, where Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to achieving net-zero shipping emissions in line with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2023 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy.
Represented by NIMASA’s Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, the DG emphasised that Nigeria’s participation in the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Programme goes beyond regulatory compliance.
“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,” Mobereola stated.
He noted that the success of the proposed National Maritime Decarbonisation Action Plan would depend heavily on the active involvement, technical expertise, and collaborative commitment of stakeholders across the maritime value chain.
The workshop, backed by the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Project, focused on developing a National Action Plan that will guide Nigeria’s transition toward low-carbon shipping through structured emissions reduction strategies, stakeholder engagement, and technical partnerships.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the Director, Maritime Safety and Security at the ministry, John Ogwuche, reiterated Nigeria’s resolve to align with global climate goals while strengthening the sector’s competitiveness.
The IMO GreenVoyage2050 Programme Manager, Ms. Astrid Dispert, warned that shipping companies that comply with new environmental standards under the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) framework would be rewarded, while non-compliant operators would face penalties.
She further urged NIMASA and other maritime stakeholders to adopt short, medium, and long-term measures to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, stressing that nations that fail to decarbonise risk being left behind in global trade.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Dr. Tenioye Majekodunmi, commended NIMASA’s leadership in driving Nigeria’s participation in the GreenVoyage2050 Programme and initiating the development of the National Action Plan.
Stakeholders at the event underscored the need for credible emissions data systems, regulatory capacity building, green port development, and inclusive participation, particularly for women and underrepresented groups within the maritime sector.
The event attracted key industry players, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), and other maritime and energy agencies, highlighting broad-based support for Nigeria’s maritime energy transition agenda.
With the National Maritime Decarbonisation Action Plan underway, NIMASA’s leadership signposts Nigeria’s ambition to position itself as a responsible maritime nation prepared for the demands of a low-carbon global economy