Expert seeks unified maritime rules for green growth
Lagos June 2026 [TBL Africa) A maritime lawyer, Chief Jean Chiazor Anishere, has urged African countries to harmonise maritime regulations, invest in green port infrastructure and strengthen institutions to remain competitive in the global transition to sustainable shipping.
Anishere made the call on Thursday during a policy dialogue at the two-day Regional Conference of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria in Lagos.
The theme of the conference is : “From Policy to Implementation: Women Advancing Africa’s Blue Economy through Sustainable Shipping, Trade and Energy Innovation”.
According to her, regulatory harmonisation, green infrastructure and strong maritime institutions are critical to unlocking investment, lowering costs and positioning Africa as a major player in the emerging green shipping economy.
She noted that fragmented regulations across African countries continue to increase compliance costs and discourage seamless maritime operations and fleet deployment across the continent.
“Africa must move beyond fragmented rules and adopt harmonised environmental and port standards that improve efficiency, reduce costs and attract investment,” she said.
Anishere advocated continental frameworks aligned with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards to create greater predictability and competitiveness in African maritime trade.
On infrastructure development, she urged governments to introduce policies and incentives that support renewable energy adoption in ports, alternative-fuel bunkering facilities, shore power systems, waste reception facilities and smart port technologies.
The former President of WISTA Nigeria said ports capable of supporting cleaner vessels would become preferred hubs in future global supply chains.
Anishere, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, warned that limited access to green finance, climate funds, blue bonds and sustainability-linked investments could slow Africa’s maritime transition and weaken its competitiveness.
According to her, governments should create incentives that encourage cleaner vessels, energy-efficient operations and private-sector investments in low-carbon maritime technologies.
Anishere stressed that effective implementation was as important as policy formulation, calling for stronger maritime administrations, port authorities and regulatory agencies with the capacity to enforce standards and drive reforms.
She identified human capital development as another critical requirement, noting that skills in alternative fuels, emissions monitoring, maritime technology and sustainability reporting would become increasingly important.
The maritime expert urged governments, universities and industry players to collaborate in training seafarers, engineers, lawyers, arbitrators and policymakers for the future maritime economy.
She also advocated integrated ocean governance, noting that shipping, ports, fisheries, offshore energy and marine conservation remain largely regulated in isolation across many African countries.
Anishere said the most transformative reforms for Africa’s maritime sector would be harmonised regulations, green port infrastructure and stronger institutions capable of enforcing policy decisions.
She added that these measures would position Africa not merely as an observer but as a leader in the global green shipping transition.
The former President of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAfrica) further noted that the transition presents significant opportunities for women to influence policy, regulation, technology, finance and governance within the maritime sector.
She called for deliberate mentorship programmes and increased representation of women in leadership and boardroom positions across the industry.
