By Miriam Humbe
The National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) has announced plans to commemorate the 2026 World Hydrography Day (WHD) on June 20 in Lagos, South-West Nigeria.
The event will focus on advancing modern ocean-data services and promoting safer navigation, maritime security, and sustainable Blue Economy development through improved sharing of hydrographic information.
The Chief Executive Officer of the NHA, Rear Admiral Olumide Fadahunsi, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said Nigeria’s 2026 WHD celebration, scheduled to take place at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, aligns with the International Hydrographic Organisation’s (IHO) global agenda and will focus on the theme, “Transforming How Ocean Data Is Shared.”
Rear Admiral Fadahunsi explained that the theme is designed to support the adoption of S-100-based data services, particularly S-101 Electronic Navigational Charts and S-102 Bathymetric Surface products, which form the foundation for modern maritime navigation systems approved by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
According to him, the initiative also highlights collaboration between the IHO and other international bodies, including the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), to integrate their services into a broader and more efficient S-100 digital ecosystem.
He noted that although the subject matter is highly technical, the IHO intentionally adopted a simple and inclusive theme to engage a wider audience comprising policymakers, industry players, researchers, maritime professionals, and the general public.
This, he said, “provides Nigeria with an opportunity to showcase the role of modern hydrography in maritime safety, trade facilitation, offshore operations, and environmental sustainability”.
The NHA boss emphasised that hydrography remains the foundation of maritime safety, ocean governance, and environmental protection.
He stressed that accurate nautical charts and ocean data products are essential for safe navigation, port development, offshore energy exploration, fisheries management, and coastal resilience planning.
According to him, the transition to standardised and interoperable S-100-compliant ocean-data services would help reduce navigational risks, enhance maritime trade efficiency, and support regional and global efforts to maintain safe sea lanes and secure maritime environments.
Fadahunsi said the plenary session, the highlight of the celebration, will bring together experts, policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving ocean-data sharing and strengthening maritime administration in Nigeria and Africa.
The event will feature three technical papers on Blue Economy governance, geospatial intelligence for marine decision-making, and the use of ocean data to support sustainable offshore energy development and indigenous oil and gas growth.
