By Danjuma Amodu | March 10, 2026
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in collaboration with the Africa Carbon Management Technology & Innovation Centre of Excellence (ACMTI) and the Clean Energy Ministerial Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage Initiative (CEM-CCUS Initiative), on Thursday launched a Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Initiative Platform in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The launch comes as Nigeria seeks practical pathways to meet its net-zero by 2060 commitment and 2035 energy transition targets, with heavy industries such as cement, fertiliser, and oil and gas requiring decarbonisation solutions beyond renewable energy.
In his keynote address, NESREA Director General Prof Innocent Barikor described the project as an important milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and industrial transformation.
He added that CCUS offers an economically viable pathway for industrial decarbonisation, enabling effective management and deployment of carbon to sectors such as beverage production, cement manufacturing, chemicals and fuels, enhanced oil recovery, and agriculture.
“We need to reduce the carbon in the atmosphere to beneficial levels. Carbon capture and utilisation give us the opportunity to capture carbon, store it, and use it in other spheres for industrial purposes. We are building a circular economy, turning challenges into economic opportunities in line with regulatory provisions,” Prof Barikor stated.
He explained further that the CCUS Platform is a collaborative ecosystem designed to integrate all stakeholders, including government institutions, industry leaders, academia, technology developers, development partners, and investors.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Owunari Georgewill, commended NESREA for the initiative, describing it as a practical mechanism for coordination, innovation, and action towards Nigeria’s 2035 targets and wider energy transition aspirations.
He noted that UNIPORT was well positioned to host the initiative, with its Energy Technology Institute having built credible expertise in energy transition areas directly relevant to the success of CCUS in Nigeria. The choice of Port Harcourt aligns with recent assessments identifying the city, alongside Lagos and Warri, as a potential CCUS hub due to its concentration of industrial CO₂ sources, proximity to depleted oil and gas fields in the Niger Delta, and existing pipeline infrastructure from petroleum operations.
Dr Richard Victor Osu, Coordinator of ACMTI and facilitator of the CTIP, said the vision was to position Nigeria as a regional leader in carbon management technologies while contributing meaningfully to Africa’s climate commitments and global decarbonisation efforts.
He added that the Platform will focus on advancing research and innovation in CCUS technologies, supporting capacity building and technical expertise, encouraging public–private partnerships, promoting investment opportunities, and facilitating collaboration with international research and technology partners.
This builds on the Nigerian CO₂ Storage Atlas released in March 2025, which identified approximately 10,700 gigatonnes of prospective storage capacity nationwide.
Juho Lipponen, Coordinator of the CEM CCUS Initiative, said his organisation would assist Nigeria in prioritising CCUS in ministerial clean energy discussions, improving carbon management deployment programmes, boosting partnerships for CCUS growth, facilitating finance solutions, and enhancing positive narratives.
The hybrid event featured speakers from the United States, France, Brazil, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, who shared insights on the project. Key stakeholders in attendance 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, the private sector, and development partners.
There are currently no operating CCUS projects in Nigeria, but the Platform aims to accelerate feasibility studies and pilots to demonstrate commercial viability.
