The Nigerian Navy said it had acquired two boats to survey selected inland waters in Nigeria effectively.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas said this recently at the awareness workshop on Maritime Safety Information Portal for stakeholders in the maritime industry in Lagos.
Ibas was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Sylvanus Abbah.
He said: “Recently the navy acquired two boats to boost the survey of selected inland waters in Nigeria.
“At present, the navy through its hydrographic office has commenced the creation of hydrographic data in the selected inland waters which will soon be used to produce charts.
“These charts will aid the Nigerian Navy and other maritime security agencies to effectively police the nation’s inland waters.’’
Ibas said that the maritime environment remains the most critical to Nigeria’s s economic development, hence the security and safety within the domain cannot be compromised.
The naval chief said that a safe and secured maritime environment depends largely on the availability of timely and accurate hydrographic data and information.
“In this regard, the navy in accordance with this statutory responsibility has stepped up efforts to provide quality hydrographic service delivery both to mariners and maritime security agencies.
“In the nearest future, the navy will acquire an ocean of vessel for survey and charting of the offshore areas of Nigeria’s maritime environment to further boost safety and security,’’ he said.
Ibas assured participants that the navy would continue to partner with maritime stakeholders in the area of hydrography.
Earlier, the hydrographer of the navy, Commodore Chukwuemeka Okafor, said that the maritime safety information facility had many advantages in the area of international shipping.
“The facility is also to integrate Nigeria into the World Wide Navigational Warning Services.
“The workshop intends to further provoke more engagement among stakeholders in order to leverage our collective strengths towards promoting maritime security in our waters.
“I hope this interaction among stakeholders will further initiate a progressive synergy towards ensuring safe and secured maritime environment in Nigeria,’’ he said.
The Maritime Safety Information Portal was launched in Lagos on Nov. 16 for effective safety of mariners on the country’s waterways.
Ibok-Ete Ibas, who inaugurated the portal and the data centre, had given an assurance that the facilities would help improve maritime security and boost Nigeria’s economy.
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