Nigeria to Focus on Ocean Data Sharing for Maritime Advancement on World Hydrography Day

Nigeria is set to join the global maritime community in observing World Hydrography Day (WHD) 2026, with a central focus on revolutionizing the methods by which ocean data is collected, managed, and shared.

The official WHD celebration in Nigeria will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel. The Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hydrographic Agency (NHA), Rear Admiral Olumide Fadahunsi, announced the event during a press briefing in Abuja. The 2026 theme, “Transforming How Ocean Data is Shared,” directly supports the International Hydrographic Organization's (IHO) transition towards advanced S-100-based hydrographic data services.

These advanced services include S-101 Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) and S-102 Bathymetric Surface products. Their adoption is crucial for supporting the International Maritime Organization's approved use of S-100 Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) in global shipping operations. Fadahunsi emphasized that while the theme is technical, it was framed accessibly to engage a broad audience, including policymakers, industry stakeholders, academics, and the public.

Rear Admiral Fadahunsi underscored the vital role of modern hydrography and digital ocean-data services in enhancing maritime safety, facilitating efficient trade, supporting offshore operations, protecting the environment, managing fisheries, and bolstering coastal resilience. "Hydrography remains the bedrock of maritime safety, ocean governance, and environmental protection," he stated. He added that by transforming how ocean data is organized and shared, Nigeria can significantly reduce navigational risks, improve trade efficiency, and contribute to safer sea lanes regionally and globally. The celebration also aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

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Hydrography remains the bedrock of maritime safety, ocean governance, and environmental protection. By transforming how ocean data is organized, standardized, and shared, Nigeria can reduce navigational risks, enhance maritime trade efficiency, and contribute to safer regional and global sea lanes.