By Innocent Obasi
The federal government of Nigeria has implemented measures to enable the country to achieve net zero carbon emission for shipping by 2050 in accordance with the policy of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The goal is to protect the maritime environment from the effects of shipping activities.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday at the 2020 World Maritime Day celebration organised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation with the theme ‘New Technologies for Greener Shipping’, Mu’azu Sambo, minister of transportation, said that Nigeria is committed to disbursing the long-awaited Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), which will allow ship owners to acquire newer ships outfitted with cutting-edge technology to lessen environmental risk.
He said that private sector operators must make a commitment to investing money on advanced platforms and assets that will meet future emission standards.
In the areas of resource mobilisation, marine training, awareness, job creation, and full implementation of maritime laws and regulations, Sambo said the entire maritime community has a role to play in bringing about a greener and sustainable maritime economy.
He urged businesses in the private sector, which stand to benefit from government policies designed to reduce carbon emissions, to support the full implementation and work with the government to address carbon emissions by deploying sufficient resources and cutting-edge technologies.
Bashir Jamoh, director general, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), listed additional strategies in which Nigeria outlined its plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 20 percent by 2030 and an additional 45 percent reduction subject to obtaining climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.
In 2023, Nigeria, according to him, would establish the National Action Plan that will ensure that the National Technical Committee on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships is strengthened and given the responsibility of developing a clear and achievable plan.
