NIMASA unveils Africa’s first Digital Maritime Decarbonization Model at COP30
NIMASA Unveils Africa’s First Digital Maritime Decarbonization Model at COP30
By Babatunde Aremu
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has introduced a landmark Public–Private Partnership (PPP) framework aimed at transforming maritime emissions management across Africa.
The centerpiece: the Nigerian Maritime Continuous Emissions Monitoring System, is developed in collaboration with University College London (UCL).
Representing the Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Dr. Oma Ofodile, Director of Marine Environment Management, highlighted the model as the culmination of years of strategic investment and policy alignment. She emphasized NIMASA’s commitment to turning IMO energy transition goals into measurable, verifiable outcomes through digital innovation.
She noted that NIMASA has “remained at the forefront of advancing IMO energy transition strategies through digital systems that convert ambition into measurable, verifiable progress.”
NIMASA’s trajectory at recent COP events underscores this momentum. At COP28, the Agency championed the formation of an African coalition on maritime GHG reduction. At COP29, however, it convened expert panels and unveiled progress on Nigeria’s first verifiable maritime emissions inventory, developed with UCL researchers to establish the data foundations for low-carbon shipping.
At COP30, that work matured into a full digital emissions monitoring model—one the Agency says can be adopted across Africa to raise transparency, strengthen compliance, and accelerate regional decarbonizationl efforts.
Representing the IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Roel Hoeders applauded NIMASA’s leadership, describing the session as “a timely andl strategic platform to shape how Africa navigates the challenges and opportunities of the global shipping energy transition.”
The side event drew experts from IMO, UCL, maritime administrations of Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, Lagos State Ministries of Planning and Budget, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and others.
COP30 is expected to deliver consensus on indicators for tracking progress under the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) of the Paris Agreement—a process designed to streamline 100 candidate indicators aligned with the 11 targets of the 2023 GGA Framework.
NIMASA’s emissions monitoring model is positioned as a practical tool contributing to that global push for clearer, science-based accountability.
