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As part of events to mark the Nigerian Navy 2023 World Hydrography Day, seven additional navigational charts would be unveiled by the force.
This was revealed on Wednesday by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Navy), Rear Admiral Seidu Garba, during a press conference in Abuja.
According to him, a navigational or hydrographic chart is a graphic representation of a sea region or water body and adjacent coasts or banks.
Depending on the scale of the chart, it may show depths of water and heights of land, natural features of the seabed, details of the coastline, navigational hazards, locations of natural and human-made aids to navigation.
It may also show information on tides and currents, local details of the Earth’s magnetic field, and human-made structures such as harbours, buildings, and bridges.
Garba said the newly produced Navigational charts by the Nigerian Navy linking Ondo to Lagos State through River Alape, would be unveiled on June 21.
He added that the new charts in addition to the earlier 20 produced for the lower-Niger River would bring the number to 27.
He further stated that at the moment, the Nigerian navy has the most sophisticated hydrographic survey vessel in the whole of Africa, adding that NNS LANA, acquired in 2021, is effectively deployed to chart the nation’s coastal areas and inland waterways.
The theme of this year is: “Hydrography – Underpinning the Digital Twin of the Ocean”, would focus on the application of hydrographic datasets for sustainable management and use of the ocean.
According to him, digital twin of the ocean is a near real-time future digital representation of the physical, chemical, biological, and socio-economical dimensions of the ocean, to facilitate well-informed decisions for effective ocean governance.
He said the ocean was everything to man, adding that it sustains life, provides food, energy, recreation and jobs.
On his part, Hydrographer of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Chukwuemeka Okafor, said that the navy had done a lot in the area of hydrographic survey in Nigeria.
According to him, there are over 3000 creeks and coastal area of about 420 nautical miles already surveyed in the country.
Okafor said that survey was a continuous process, adding that the navy had not surveyed up to half of Nigeria’s waters because of its vastness.
He said that about 20 charts have been made covering River Niger from Lokoja to the Atlantic Ocean through River Ramos and Forcados River.
Okafor said that while additional seven charts would be unveiled in coming days, the surveying of Uguta Lake through Orassi River down to the Atlantic Ocean, up to Sombrero River and New Calaba River had reached 95 per cent.
The World Hydrography Day is meant to sensitise people of what hydrography is and the values it brings to every nation.
