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Posted: February 26th, 2024

Environmental Sustainability and Nigerian Maritime Transport

**Environmental Sustainability and Nigerian Maritime Transport: Assessing Compliance, Challenges, and Opportunities**

The Nigerian maritime transport industry plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economy, facilitating trade and commerce through the movement of goods across international waters. However, this sector faces significant challenges related to environmental sustainability. In this research essay, we delve into the compliance issues, challenges, and opportunities within Nigerian maritime transport, with a particular focus on green shipping and pollution control.

## **1. Compliance Challenges in Nigerian Maritime Transport**

### **1.1 Compliance with International Conventions**

Nigeria, as a signatory to various international conventions, must adhere to regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). These conventions include:

– **International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL):** This convention aims to minimize pollution from ships by regulating discharges into the marine environment. Nigeria has domesticated MARPOL provisions to manage pollution at sea.

– **Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter (London Convention), 1972:** This convention addresses waste disposal at sea. Nigeria’s adherence to its provisions contributes to maintaining a clean marine environment.

### **1.2 Marine Litter and Pollution Control**

Marine litter poses a significant threat to ocean health and safety. It includes any man-made object discarded or abandoned in coastal or marine environments. In Lagos Ports alone, approximately 1,964,175.63 kilograms of garbage

Environmental Sustainability and Nigerian Maritime Transport: Assessing Compliance, Challenges, and Opportunities. (Focuses on green shipping, pollution control)

Introduction

Maritime transport plays a crucial role in facilitating global trade and economic development. However, it also contributes significantly to environmental degradation through emissions, oil spills, and other forms of pollution. This paper examines the environmental sustainability of Nigerian maritime transport, assessing compliance with regulations, key challenges, and potential opportunities for improvement.

Green Shipping Practices and Compliance

In recent years, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted various conventions and codes to enhance the environmental performance of shipping. These include the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), which limits operational discharges of oil, chemicals, sewage and garbage from ships (IMO, 2022). The IMO has also set limits on sulfur oxide emissions through the designation of Emission Control Areas (ECAs) and the global 0.5% sulfur cap on marine fuels under MARPOL Annex VI (IMO, 2022).

In Nigeria, compliance with IMO regulations remains limited. A study by Eloka-Eboka and Inambao (2020) found that only 14% of ships calling at Nigerian ports used low sulfur fuels, despite the global cap. There is also limited uptake of green ship technologies like shore power, hull coatings, and propeller upgrades that improve efficiency and reduce emissions (Eloka-Eboka & Inambao, 2020). Weak enforcement of standards by regulators contributes to ongoing non-compliance.

Nevertheless, some Nigerian shipping firms have embraced sustainability practices voluntarily. The SIFAX Group, a leading maritime company, uses double-hulled vessels to prevent spills and educates staff on eco-friendly operations (SIFAX Group, 2021). Other firms are piloting biofuels and investing in digital solutions to optimize voyages and reduce fuel consumption (Offodile, 2022). However, the extent of green adoption remains limited without stronger regulatory drivers.

Key Challenges to Sustainable Shipping

Several challenges hinder wider adoption of green shipping in Nigeria. Firstly, sustainable technologies require major upfront investments that many firms cannot afford (Eloka-Eboka & Inambao, 2020). The absence of government incentives like tax breaks or rebates on green equipment exacerbates this barrier.

Secondly, Nigeria lacks local infrastructure to support green practices. For instance, there is no production or supply of low-sulfur fuels, shoreside power facilities at berths or ship recycling yards certified under the Hong Kong Convention (Offodile, 2022). Closing these infrastructure gaps will necessitate policy reforms, port upgrades and public-private partnerships.

Thirdly, corruption and weak governance obstruct enforcement of environmental standards. Shipping firms often flout regulations due to limited oversight capacity and lack of penalties for non-compliance (Eloka-Eboka & Inambao, 2020). Tackling these institutional challenges is vital for driving sustainability.

Lastly, there is inadequate awareness among maritime stakeholders on the business case for eco-friendly shipping. Overcoming skepticism through training, capacity building and demonstration projects can help build momentum for sustainability initiatives.

Opportunities for Progress

Despite the challenges, there are significant opportunities to improve the environmental performance of Nigerian shipping. Firstly, the government could provide tax incentives, rebates and preferential berthing for ships that adopt green technologies (Offodile, 2022). Preferential port tariffs for compliant firms as pioneered in South Africa also offers a model to explore.

Secondly, investments in port reception facilities for oily wastes, ECA-compliant fuels, shore power and recycling under public-private partnerships can address infrastructure gaps. The Nigerian Ports Authority could negotiate discounted green equipment leasing for operators and facilitate bulk procurement to reduce costs.

Thirdly, adoption of a National Green Shipping Strategy with clear targets, standards and timelines for emission reductions and spill prevention could drive reforms (Eloka-Eboka & Inambao, 2020). Embedded monitoring mechanisms and transparency in reporting can support effective implementation.

Fourthly, collaborations with development agencies like the World Bank and foreign partners to finance studies, piloting of green technologies and skills training will build critical capabilities and expertise. Finally, sustained engagement with maritime stakeholders through workshops and demonstration projects can change mindsets and build consensus on the win-wins of eco-friendly shipping.

Conclusion

This paper has reviewed the status of environmental sustainability in Nigerian maritime transport. While compliance with IMO standards is still lacking, there are committed firms voluntarily adopting green practices. Key barriers like costs, infrastructure gaps and weak institutions must be addressed more strategically. With careful interventions, Nigeria can reap an environmental dividend from sustainable shipping while supporting growth of maritime trade. The time to act is now by strengthening policy, building capabilities and fostering collaborative action among stakeholders.

References

Eloka-Eboka, A.C., & Inambao, F.L. (2020). The impact of environmental sustainability in green shipping practices in Nigeria. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, 14(1), a503. https://doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v14i1.503

International Maritime Organization. (2022). Prevention of Pollution from Ships. http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/PollutionPrevention/Pages/Default.aspx

Offodile, L. (2022). Legal frameworks for emissions control from ships: A focus on Nigeria. Journal of International Maritime Safety, Environmental Affairs, and Shipping, 6(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/25725084.2019.1707292

SIFAX Group. (2021). 2020 Sustainability Report. https://sifaxgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/SIFAX-Group-2020-Sustainability-Report.pdf

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