LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria has intensified efforts to strengthen maritime safety and improve navigation standards as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Hydrographic Agency explore wider use of locally developed nautical charts and hydrographic communication tools.
The move was highlighted during a working visit by the Hydrographer of the Nation, Rear Admiral Olumide Fadahunsi, to the management of NIMASA in Lagos, where both agencies held discussions aimed at deepening collaboration in hydrographic services and maritime safety management.
Fadahunsi commended NIMASA for its ongoing commitment to maritime safety and development, stressing that increased reliance on locally generated hydrographic data would significantly enhance navigational safety, strengthen maritime security, and improve management of Nigeria’s territorial waters.
“Hydrography remains a critical component of maritime safety and national development,” Fadahunsi said. “Strengthening collaboration between the National Hydrographic Agency and NIMASA will enhance navigational safety, improve maritime security, and support sustainable growth within Nigeria’s maritime domain.”
He further noted that better compliance with indigenous hydrographic information systems would reduce reliance on external data sources while improving efficiency in maritime operations.
In his response, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening maritime safety infrastructure, improving enforcement mechanisms, and enhancing capacity building within the sector.
Mobereola emphasized that collaboration between maritime institutions remains essential for achieving safer waterways and improved operational standards.
“At NIMASA, we recognize that effective collaboration among maritime institutions is essential to achieving safer and more efficient waterways,” he said. “We remain committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen maritime safety, improve operational standards, and enhance the overall growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector.”The partnership is expected to enhance Nigeria’s maritime administration framework, particularly through improved deployment of accurate and up-to-date navigational charts, in line with NIMASA’s statutory mandate to ensure safe navigation and shipping across Nigerian waters.
