By Abbas Nazil
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has unveiled a pioneering Nigerian Maritime Continuous Emissions Monitoring System at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, marking a major step toward reducing carbon emissions in the nation’s maritime sector.
The innovation, presented through a Public-Private Partnership model, demonstrates Nigeria’s growing commitment to maritime decarbonisation and aligns with global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.
According to a statement by NIMASA’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, the initiative showcases Nigeria’s leadership in advancing the International Maritime Organisation’s energy transition strategies through digital technology.
NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, represented by Dr Oma Ofodile, noted that the agency has consistently pushed for energy transition in the maritime industry, building on earlier milestones achieved at previous climate summits.
At COP28, the agency advocated the formation of an African Coalition to pursue IMO’s greenhouse gas reduction targets, while COP29 featured expert discussions and the presentation of Nigeria’s progress in developing a verifiable maritime emissions inventory in partnership with University College London researchers.
This year at COP30, NIMASA formally showcased the Continuous Emissions Monitoring System, developed with UCL experts, as concrete evidence of Nigeria’s efforts to implement IMO’s energy transition strategies.
IMO Secretary-General’s representative, Roel Hoeders, commended NIMASA for organising the session and deepening regional dialogue on Africa’s pathway to low-carbon shipping.
The event gathered experts from IMO, UCL, maritime administrations of Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania, Lagos State ministries, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
A key expectation at COP30 is the adoption of indicators to measure progress on the Global Goal on Adaptation under the Paris Agreement, aimed at narrowing 100 proposed indicators into a framework covering 11 adaptation targets.
International shipping currently accounts for about 2.9% of global CO₂ emissions, prompting IMO to adopt major measures since 2011, including mandatory efficiency standards for ships and fuel consumption reporting for vessels above 5,000 gross tonnage.
NIMASA’s new monitoring system positions Nigeria to better track emissions, support compliance, and advance toward a low-carbon maritime future.