IMO Pledges Support for Nigeria in Achieving Cleaner Oceans, Greener Shipping

..As Transport Minister Identifies Finance as Critical Driver for Unlocking Potentials of Blue Economy

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has pledged support for Nigeria in order to achieve cleaner oceans and greener shipping which is in line with the theme of the 2022 World Maritime Day; New Technologies for Greener Shipping”

Secretary General of IMO, Mr Kitack Lim stated this on Monday at the 2022 edition of the Nigerian International Maritime Summit (NIMS) at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos State Nigeria.

Speaking, Lim said “There can be no doubt that decarbonization is one of the greatest challenges of our time. As we continue to look at how to incentivize the availability and scalability of low- and zero-carbon marine fuels and technologies, IMO will continue to support developing countries with our capacity building as well as partnerships and projects aimed at supporting an inclusive transition.

“Decarbonization gives us not only challenges but also opportunities in different ways. Automation and digitalization are also critical to shipping’s future. IMO seeks to embrace the benefits of new technologies in a considered way including addressing safety, cyber security risks, the impact on the environment and on personnel, both on board and ashore.”

Mr Lim commended the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for effectively collaborating with local , regional and international partners to achieve success in the war against piracy.

He also offered IMO partnership with Nigerian government to achieve port community system for the west and central Africa Region

“As we continue to look at ways the International Maritime Organization (IMO) can assist Nigeria, and other African member states, in increasing their maritime capabilities, I wish to use this opportunity to congratulate NIMASA for the successes recorded in reducing piracy and other maritime crimes in Nigeria’s territorial waters, and the Gulf of Guinea area, to record low levels”

“We understand that this has come about through NIMASA’s collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, as well as local and international partners and for this, we say congratulations” he said

While declaring the NIMS open, Honourable Minister Of Transportation, Eng Mu’azu Jaji Sambo identified finance as a critical driver for unlocking the potentials of the blue economy in Africa and particularly Nigeria.

According to him, sustainable financing models are important to build critical maritime assets such as shipyards and ports across the country.

He said, “the Summit was also necessary for discussions within the global community on the need to reshape the way the shipping industry operates in the face of current and future challenges, ranging from a changing climate and the need for rapid decarbonisation by 2050 cannot be overemphasized”.

Nigeria’s commitment to the sustainability of the blue economy is demonstrated by the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“To this end, an Expanded Committee on Sustainable Blue Economy in Nigeria (ECSBEN) under the leadership of no less a person than the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is driving the implementation process and to perfect the agenda for a national strategy.

“This agenda amongst others is focused on providing an assessment of the current realities, opportunities and challenges for economic diversification and the growth of a sustainable blue economy.

“This includes the identification and review of relevant policies and institutional/capacity-building mechanisms. This is in addition to the identification of regional and cross-border partnerships necessary for the implementation of the blue economy plan, the relevant sectors, actors and linkages, and the development of a national action plan with an implementation strategy for the Nigerian blue economy,” he said.

Sambo further revealed that synergy with the appropriate authorities had led to several achievements in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, extolling the leadership virtues of President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders for their support in achieving zero piracy in Nigeria’s Maritime domain since the commissioning of the Deep Blue project in June 2021 by President Buhari.

The panel session was chaired by the Chairman Board of NIMS, Mrs Mfon Usoro, with the theme; “De-cabonisation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Shipping; Regional Policy & Operational Perspectives”

Speaking as a panelist, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh identified challenges against achieving de-cabonisation and greenhouse gas emissions.

According to him, technology, finance are key challenges facing African countries in achieving de-cabonisation.

“Two third of countries being affected by greenhouse gas emissions are from Africa, not Nigeria alone, the who continent is affected” he said