The National Hydrographic Agency has outlined Nigeria’s commitment to adopting the S-100 suite of international maritime data standards, describing the transition as a strategic opportunity to modernize navigation safety, strengthen maritime governance, and support the growth of the blue economy through the seamless exchange of reliable ocean information.
NHA Hydrographer of the Federation Rear Admiral Olumide Fadahunsi, speaking at a press conference ahead of World Hydrography Day 2026, said the shift to S-100-based services including S-101 Electronic Navigational Charts and S-102 Bathymetric Surface products represented a foundational upgrade for international shipping, underpinning the International Maritime Organization’s approval of S-100 Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems as a recognized means of navigation.
He said modern hydrography was indispensable to port development, offshore energy, submarine cable routing, fisheries management, and coastal resilience planning, and that the World Hydrography Day plenary session at the Lagos Oriental Hotel on June 20 would examine how enhanced ocean data sharing could strengthen navigation safety and maritime administration across Africa. Technical presentations would address inclusive governance in Africa’s blue economy, geospatial intelligence for marine decision-making, and the conversion of ocean data into assets for sustainable offshore energy development.
