Mapping Nigeria’s Maritime Future: The $10 Million Hydrographic Drive
By Kabir Abdulsalam
On June 21, 2025, as the world marked World Hydrography Day under the theme “Seabed Mapping: Enabling Ocean Action”, a powerful transformation was underway in Abuja, Nigeria. What began as a ceremonial commemoration evolved into a clarion call for action—illuminating Nigeria’s bold maritime ambitions and the vital role of the National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) in unlocking the immense potential of the country’s blue economy.
The event, which also hosted the West African Hydrographic Summit, drew journalists, diplomats, maritime experts, naval officers, and development stakeholders. It became a platform not just for celebration, but for strategic visioning—signaling Nigeria’s emergence as a key player in global ocean governance.
I was privileged to attend the pre-summit press briefing addressed by Rear Admiral Ayodeji Olugbode, Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the NHA. His message was both urgent and visionary: Nigeria is charting its waters not merely to ensure safe navigation, but to drive economic growth, regional leadership, and environmental sustainability.
At the heart of this effort lies a bold financial ambition: Nigeria stands to generate up to $10–12 million annually from Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) once its indigenous charting systems are fully deployed and national seabed mapping is completed.
“We’ve already started receiving revenue from ships making port calls in Nigerian waters who subscribe to our charts,” Admiral Olugbode disclosed. “It functions like a digital subscription model. The more charts we produce, the more value we deliver—for safety, trade, and the economy.”
To the uninitiated, hydrography may appear as a niche field reserved for naval specialists and oceanographers. But as highlighted during the summit, it is a foundational pillar of national development. With 71% of the Earth’s surface covered by water and only 26% mapped to modern standards, the global knowledge gap in ocean mapping has far-reaching implications for shipping, fisheries, oil and gas, tourism, disaster preparedness, and coastal planning.
“The sea is our largest unexplored resource,” Admiral Olugbode emphasized. “And if we don’t map it, we can’t manage it.”
To date, the NHA has mapped over 85,325 square kilometres of Nigeria’s marine territory and launched digital charting systems now being subscribed to by international vessels. The agency’s mapping strategy—beginning in Lagos, extending to Calabar, and currently focusing on the Bonny axis—prioritizes areas based on shipping density and seabed mobility.
The introduction of ENCs, part of the broader Electronic Navigational Chart Information System (ENCIS), is not only enhancing maritime safety and reducing vessel accidents, but also lowering war risk insurance premiums for ships entering Nigerian waters. With sustained progress, Nigeria could tap into the $90 million global ENC validation market.
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This year’s World Hydrography Day also underscored Nigeria’s growing leadership in the subregion. Plans are already underway to establish a West African Regional Hydrographic Office and Training Centre, to be hosted in Nigeria, and serve as a capacity-building hub for ECOWAS member states.
Throughout the summit week, exhibition booths showcased cutting-edge innovations—from AI-driven hydrographic software to unmanned seabed survey vehicles—while expert panels debated topics ranging from regional data collaboration to sustainable blue economy strategies.
What stood out was Nigeria’s determined positioning—not merely as a participant, but as a pathfinder for Africa’s ocean science and governance.
“We are not just mapping our own waters,” Admiral Olugbode declared. “We are creating frameworks and partnerships that will enable the entire region to meet the global Seabed 2030 mapping goals.”
That commitment reflects Nigeria’s alignment with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the Seabed 2030 Initiative, which aims to map the entire ocean floor by 2030.
Yet, challenges persist. Admiral Olugbode candidly acknowledged funding limitations, manpower shortages, and the lengthy timeline—up to 10 years—required to fully train a modern hydrographer. While the acquisition of two hydrographic ships, NNS Lana and NNS Ochuza, marks a significant step, operational costs, real-time data analytics, and infrastructure upgrades remain pressing concerns.
As Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, aptly put it:
“Hydrography is no longer an option. It is a requirement—for safety, sovereignty, and economic growth.”
Global models affirm the economic viability of this path. The United Kingdom’s Hydrographic Office (UKHO) generates over £150 million ($190 million) annually by exporting Admiralty charts and services to over 180 countries. In Asia, Singapore’s hydrographic integration with port operations contributes substantially to its maritime economy, with hydrographic services alone estimated at $15–20 million annually. Norway earns more than $25 million each year by using seabed mapping to support oil exploration, aquaculture, and fisheries.
For Nigeria—with its strategic Atlantic coastline, high shipping density, and emerging regional influence—similar or even greater returns are attainable. But achieving this requires sustained investment, interagency coordination, regional cooperation, and effective public engagement.
As the summit drew to a close, a pivotal question lingered in the minds of participants, myself included:
Can Nigeria meet its $12 million annual revenue target and become West Africa’s hydrographic powerhouse by 2030?
The building blocks are in place: political will, technology, regional buy-in, and institutional backing. What remains is consistent funding, strategic communication, and private sector collaboration.
If the National Hydrographic Agency’s mandate is matched with a coordinated communication strategy that fosters investor confidence, builds public trust, and drives cross-sector partnerships, the answer is a resounding yes.
The ocean is vast—but so is Nigeria’s untapped potential. What we choose to do with it today will determine whether Nigeria merely sails along—or charts the course for a new era of maritime prosperity.
Kabir Abdulsalam writes from Abuja and can be reached via [email protected].
