Yemisi Izuora
Analysts and stakeholders who converged at the 2026 World Decarbonisation Day celebration in Nigeria have called for establishment of multi-stakeholder decarbonisation hub to accelerate the country’s transition to a low-carbon, resilient and inclusive economy.
Dr. Felicia Chinwe Mogo while speaking at the 2026 World Decarbonisation Day celebration held in Lagos on September 3, 2026, at the Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG) and the World Decarbonisation Summit, made a strong advocacy for such hub.
Speaking on the theme, “Nigerian Blue Economy: Advancing Decarbonization through Collaboration, Innovation and Sustainable Climate Action,” Mogo said Nigeria’s vast ocean and maritime resources could become an important driver of sustainable economic growth if properly developed alongside strong environmental protection measures.
She defined the blue economy as a strategy aimed at supporting sustainable economic growth through ocean-related sectors and activities, while improving human well-being and social equity and preserving the marine environment.
According to her, the concept has evolved from an environmental agenda into a strategic industrial opportunity capable of contributing to Africa’s sustainable development, trade and prosperity.
Mogo noted that Africa’s blue economy gained significant international attention following the first Sustainable Blue Economy Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2018, which brought together more than 18,000 participants from 184 countries.
According to her, countries including Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, Seychelles and Mauritius had developed national blue economy strategies, while the African Union had identified the blue economy as a driver of transformation.
She stressed that achieving the objectives of the blue economy would require a clear understanding of its geographical, biophysical, historical, governance and regulatory dimensions, as well as its opportunities and challenges.
Mogo explained that the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions was driven by the imperative to protect the environment, safeguard communities and natural resources, remain competitive in a low-carbon global economy, promote innovation and create new employment opportunities.
She identified several areas through which Nigeria’s oil and gas industry could reduce emissions, including methane leak detection and reduction, elimination of routine gas flaring, electrification of operations, renewable power, low-carbon hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and improved energy efficiency.
For the maritime sector, she highlighted vessel efficiency, slow steaming, shore-side electricity, wind-assisted propulsion, green methanol, green ammonia, hydrogen and sustainable fuels, as well as onboard carbon capture.
Mogo said the oil and gas and maritime industries were “inseparable twin sectors” because they share vessels, ports, logistics, offshore infrastructure, engineering services and coastal ecosystems.
She therefore called for greater collaboration between both sectors to identify opportunities for joint emissions reduction.
She also highlighted the economic potential of blue carbon, particularly mangroves, seagrasses and wetlands, which she said could provide carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection and community livelihoods.
She further noted that, carbon markets could transform emission reduction into an economic asset while creating new professional opportunities in measurement, reporting and verification, environmental assessment, carbon project management, climate-finance proposals, technology development and carbon-asset trading.
Mogo further called for the establishment of a decarbonisation hub anchored by WEOG to convene, connect, coordinate and catalyse stakeholders already working, or willing to work, on decarbonisation.
She said the hub should implement the “3 Cs” – Convene stakeholders, Connect ideas, technology, finance and expertise, and Catalyse projects capable of delivering measurable decarbonisation.
She urged WEOG to convene a high-level technical discussion involving relevant government ministries, agencies and stakeholders, stressing that the proposed hub could transform ideas into partnerships, pilot projects, investments and eventually scalable solutions for Nigeria’s energy and maritime transition.