Stakeholders in the maritime industry have charged the Federal Government to remove the many barriers to the development and deployment of clean energy sources for maritime decarbonisation.
They listed the barriers to include, lack of infrastructure, financing, policy support and public awareness, which they said would hinder the country’s from attaining the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) move to reduce carbon emissions to 30 per cent by 2030, 80 per cent by 2040 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
They said Nigeria is a signatory to the MARPOL Convention, which is the main international instrument for preventing pollution from ships, but has, however, not ratified all the annexes of the convention with concerns about the enforcement and compliance of the existing regulations.
The Secretary-General of the Merchant Seafarers Association of Nigeria (MESAN), Captain Alfred Oniye, said there are still many barriers to the development and deployment of clean energy sources, such as lack of infrastructure, financing, policy support, and public awareness.
He said Nigeria has one of the highest rates of energy poverty in the world and suffers from chronic power cuts, noting that as a coastal country with a large maritime industry, it has a significant role to play in decarbonisation and shipping pollution reduction.
Speaking on the World Maritime Day 2023, Oniye said it was an important occasion to raise awareness and action on the environmental challenges facing the maritime sector, adding that the country has a large potential for renewable energy, especially solar power, which could meet 59 per cent of its energy consumption needs by 2050.
“Nigeria announced that it will aim to reach net-zero emissions by 2060 at the COP26 climate summit in 2021. The government has also pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2030 when compared to “business-as-usual” levels. This pledge rises to 47 per cent on the condition of international support
“Nigeria has a high dependence on oil and gas exports, which account for 93 per cent of its total export revenue. The production of oil and gas in Nigeria has also been linked to steep societal inequalities and environmental disasters, such as oil spills and gas flaring. These activities have caused severe damage to the marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of the local communities in the Niger Delta region.
The Chairman, Merchant Navy Shipping Zonal Council, Captain Adetayo Saliu, raised alarm on the aged and technological inadequacy of vessels currently operating in the nation’s waters.
He said aligning with decarbonisation goals requires a radical overhaul of the maritime fleet, while also stressing the need for enforcing regulations on vessel age as well as mirroring policies in countries where older vessels are prohibited from plying their waters.
On his part, an environmentalist, Babawale Obayanju, stressed that the government has not really shown commitment to the removal of maritime pollution.
He said achieving this goal demands not only political will and action, but also a fundamental shift in lifestyle towards prioritising homegrown products to reduce importation
A Petroleum Engineer, Zakka Bala, stated that not much has been done regarding commitment to reducing maritime pollution.
He underscored the necessity of collective efforts to achieve a sustainable maritime industry in Nigeria.
Bala called on the government to establish the necessary laws and infrastructure for decarbonisation as well as enhancing the capacity of indigenous ship owners and vessels.
