The Federal Government has announced the establishment of International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts West Africa Regional Office and Training Centre to be hosted by the National Hydrographic Agency (NHA).
This venture positions Nigeria to tap into the 90 million dollar global market for Electronic Navigational Charts.
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle disclosed this at the 2025 World Hydrography Day celebration in Abuja with the theme: “Seabed Mapping: Enabling Ocean Action”.
He said establishment was targeted at generating between $9 and $12 million in annual revenue from chart validation, distribution, and revenue management for international shipping clients.
Matawalle pledged Nigeria’s support for hydrographic capacity building, investment in technology, and stronger regional ties to ensure that no part of Nigerian waters remained uncharted, unsafe, or unsustainable.
According to the Minister, sustainable development, especially in the nation’s coastal and riverine communities, depends on how the nation understands and manages the marine environment.
Announcing the establishment of the regional office and training Centre, Matawalle said with the strategic partnership, the National Hydrographic Agency of Nigeria has joined four other global regional offices in the US, UK, Australia and Brazil.
“This move positions Nigeria to tap into the $90 million global market for Electronic Navigational Charts, potentially generating between $9 million $12 million in annual revenue from chart validation, distribution, and revenue management for international shipping clients,” Matawalle said.
He noted that Seabed mapping was no longer a technical luxury but a strategic imperative where cables connect the digital world, pipelines fuel the industries, and biodiversity sustains the ecosystems.
The minister added that despite its critical role to modern society “Yet, much of it remains uncharted, unknown, and therefore unprotected”.
According to the Matawalle, the data that hydrographers gather beneath the nation’s waters enables safe navigation, marine spatial planning, climate science, coastal defence, and blue economy development.
“In essence, seabed mapping is the foundation upon which sound ocean action is built,” the minister noted.
He commended the National Hydrographic Agency for work being done since its establishment in 2021.
He stressed that the agency has taken giant strides to place Nigeria on the map as a credible hydrographic nation active in the engagement and promotion of hydrography.
“We are proud to support your efforts as you align with the International Hydrographic Organisation’s goals and drive innovation across West Africa,” he assured.
The minister added that the event was not just about mapping the seabed but about shaping the future of our oceans. “It is about creating tools, data, and partnerships that enable real ocean action: better decision-making, cleaner coastlines, safer navigation, and sustainable exploitation of marine resources”.
Matawalle also stressed that seabed mapping plays a critical role in unlocking this potential in the blue economy as an emerging frontier that offers vast opportunities for economic diversification, job creation, food security, and energy development.
“From charting offshore wind zones to identifying safe routes for maritime trade and protecting critical marine habitats, hydrography is the backbone of a sustainable ocean economy.
“Therefore, Nigeria must leverage its hydrographic capacity not only to secure its waters but to fuel its economic transformation,” he said.
Matawalle said such engagements were vital in nurturing the next generation of ocean champions, scientists, and strategists. “Let us keep investing in our youth because they are the future custodians of our waters. Let us leave this summit with renewed purpose to support hydrographic development, not just as a technical endeavour, but as a national security priority, an economic catalyst, and a global commitment to sustainable development.”
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