Expert Advises FG To Chart Nigerian Waters

An hydrographer with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Olumide Omotosho advised the Federal Government to give priority to charting of the nation's waters.
Omotosho, who is the Vice President, Nigerian Hydrographic Society (NHS), told newsmen  in Lagos that government should also give priority  to other hydrographic services.
Charting or mapping is the drawing to show coastlines, water depth and other information of use to navigators.

An hydrographer with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Olumide Omotosho advised the Federal Government to give priority to charting of the nation's waters.
Omotosho, who is the Vice President, Nigerian Hydrographic Society (NHS), told newsmen  in Lagos that government should also give priority  to other hydrographic services.
Charting or mapping is the drawing to show coastlines, water depth and other information of use to navigators.
Omotosho said that charting of Nigerian waters and hydrographic services ought to have come before the Cabotage law was enacted.
“It is so strategic and important to chart the waters because it not only supports shipping, but other maritime economic services as well as security.
“It is from the marine domain that you get oil and gas, fishing, tourism, dredging and other activities.
“Hydrographic survey is the backbone of any maritime nation. “A nation would not even know the resources it has until it surveys and charts its waters,’’ he said
The NPA hydrographer said that there had not been adequate survey of the inland waters under the control of the National Inland Waterways Authority and the coastal waterways under the Nigerian Navy.
He said that the inadequate survey of the inland waters and coastal waters had frustrated their development.
“The Federal Government needs to support the Navy and NIWA to cover their jurisdictions.
“They need to be adequately funded so that they can do more in terms of charting as most of the uncharted waters in Nigeria lies within their jurisdictions.
“This is unlike what happens in the port environment under the NPA jurisdiction.
“The NPA carries out quarterly charting of approach channels into the ports and at berths in the ports,’’ Omotosho said.
The hydrographer said that inadequate priority to hydrographic services had led to the absence of a National Hydrographic office that could  accommodate both military and civil hydrographic services in Nigeria.
“Hydrography deserves an office or commission similar to what obtains in other sectors of the economy such as the National Population Commission and National Boundary Commission,’’ he said.
He said that charting of the waters was key and basic to implementation of the International Convention for the Safety of lives at Sea (SOLAS, 1974) and ensuring the safety of ships.
Omotosho said that the development of hydrography also had implication for prevention of pollution from ships according to the International Convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships and the Marine Environment (MARPOL, 1973).
Omotosho was recently made the Vice-Chairman of the Capacity Building Sub-Committee of the International Hydrographic Organisation.