By Innocent Orok
Nigeria is stepping boldly to the forefront of Africa’s climate transition agenda as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) introduced a groundbreaking Public-Private Partnership model for maritime decarbonization at the UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The highlight of the presentation was the Nigerian Maritime Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (NIMACEMS), a first-of-its-kind digital framework designed to help Africa measure, report, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.
Showcased at a high-level side event hosted by NIMASA, the innovation signals Nigeria’s readiness to lead the continent toward low-carbon shipping using data-driven solutions aligned with the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) energy transition strategies.
Dr Oma Ofodile, Director of Marine Environment Management, who represented NIMASA’s Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the model was the product of years of consistent investment in energy-transition research, digital innovation, and international collaboration, particularly with the University College London (UCL) energy and environment research group.
She noted that Nigeria’s decarbonization journey has been a steady build-up across three global climate summits:
At COP28, NIMASA championed the creation of an African Coalition on Maritime Emissions Reduction.
At COP29, it unveiled progress on developing Nigeria’s first verifiable maritime emissions inventory with UCL researchers. At COP30, the Agency presented the fully developed Continuous Emissions Monitoring System, marking Africa’s first clear digital pathway for maritime decarbonization.
The event drew applause from global maritime leaders. Representing the IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Roel Hoeders praised the initiative as a “strategic lens through which Africa can rethink its transition challenges and opportunities in global shipping.”
The session brought together experts from IMO, UCL, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Lagos State Government, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Nigerian Ports Authority—creating what participants described as a “continental think-tank moment” for Africa’s maritime future.
As COP30 works toward defining measurable indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), NIMASA’s emissions-monitoring model positions Nigeria as a leading voice in shaping how developing economies will track climate progress under the Paris Agreement.
