The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in collaboration with the Africa Carbon Management Technology and Innovation Centre of Excellence and the Clean Energy Ministerial Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage Initiative, has launched a Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Platform in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The landmark initiative signals a major shift in Nigeria’s climate strategy, positioning carbon not as waste but as a valuable economic resource capable of driving industrial growth and environmental resilience.
Delivering the keynote address, Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, described the platform as a critical milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and industrial transformation.
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According to him, CCUS offers a practical and economically viable pathway for reducing emissions while unlocking new industrial opportunities.
He explained that captured carbon can be repurposed across multiple sectors, including beverage production, cement manufacturing, chemical processing, fuel production, enhanced oil recovery, and agriculture.
“We must reduce carbon in the atmosphere to beneficial levels. Carbon capture and utilisation give us the opportunity not only to store carbon but to deploy it productively across industries.
“This is about building a circular economy, turning environmental challenges into economic opportunities,” Barikor stated.
The Director-General further stressed that the initiative is a collaborative ecosystem designed to bring together government institutions, industry leaders, academia, technology developers, development partners, and investors.
“The platform aims to serve as a hub for innovation, policy coordination, and large-scale deployment of carbon management solutions,” he added.
Also speaking, Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NESREA for what he described as a practical and forward-looking intervention.
He noted that the university is strategically positioned to host the initiative, given the strong technical capacity of its Energy Technology Institute in advancing energy transition research.
Coordinator of the Africa Carbon Management Technology & Innovation Centre of Excellence (ACMTI) and facilitator of the CCUS Technology Innovation Platform, Dr Richard Victor Osu, emphasised that the vision is to position Nigeria as a regional leader in carbon management technologies while contributing meaningfully to Africa’s climate commitments and global decarbonisation efforts.
He explained that Port Harcourt was selected due to its strategic importance as a potential CCUS hub, particularly given its concentration of industrial and energy infrastructure.
“The platform will drive research and innovation, strengthen technical capacity, promote public-private partnerships, attract investments, and deepen collaboration with global technology and research partners,” Osu said.
Speaking on behalf of international partners, Juho Lipponen, Coordinator of the CEM-CCUS Initiative, reaffirmed support for Nigeria’s efforts. He noted that the initiative would help elevate CCUS within global clean energy discussions, improve deployment strategies, mobilise financing, and strengthen international partnerships.
The hybrid launch event drew participation from experts across the United States, France, Brazil, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, reflecting the growing global interest in Nigeria’s carbon management ambitions.
Key national stakeholders present included the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, academia, private-sector players, and development partners.
With this initiative, Nigeria is not only confronting its carbon challenge but also redefining it, transforming emissions into opportunity and laying the foundation for a low-carbon, innovation-driven economy.
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