By Nkechi Eze
The National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) is set to expand Nigeria’s national nautical chart coverage with the release of three new charts for the Calabar maritime corridor on October 1, 2026.
According to an official statement signed by the Director Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the new charts are NG5514 Approaches to Calabar, NG5515 Jamestown, and NG4255 Port of Calabar.
The NHA said the charts would provide updated navigational coverage from the approaches to Calabar through Jamestown and into the Port of Calabar limits, giving mariners access to current hydrographic information to support safe and efficient navigation.
The development coincides with the planned withdrawal of United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Admiralty Charts 3433 and 3434, which currently cover the Calabar area.
The agency said it would coordinate with the UKHO to ensure continuity of authoritative navigational coverage and minimise any gap in chart availability during the transition.
As part of the quality assurance process, the paper charts underwent technical assessment by the UKHO to verify consistency with adjoining chart coverage, while the corresponding Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) were independently validated by the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts (IC-ENC).
The Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of NHA, Rear Admiral OO Fadahunsi, described the release as a demonstration of Nigeria’s growing capacity to survey, chart and maintain its waterways to internationally recognised standards.
“The publication of these charts represents more than the release of new navigational products. It demonstrates Nigeria’s growing capacity to survey, chart and maintain its waterways to internationally recognised standards,” Fadahunsi said.
He said the agency’s priority was to ensure that mariners operating within Nigerian waters had access to accurate, current and authoritative information required for safe and efficient navigation.
Fadahunsi noted that the Calabar maritime corridor was strategically important to commercial shipping and other maritime activities within Nigeria’s eastern maritime domain, adding that the updated charts would enhance navigational safety and support efficient vessel operations.
The NHA said the release was part of its broader programme to expand and modernise Nigeria’s national nautical chart portfolio through continued hydrographic surveys, production of new paper charts and ENCs, and regular updating of existing products.
The three new charts will be officially available to mariners from October 1, 2026.
