The federal government has stated that hydrographic information is crucial in ensuring national maritime safety and supporting Nigeria’s economic growth.
The Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, made this known while speaking at the 2024 World Hydrography Day in Abuja, which had the theme “Hydrographic information—Enhancing safety, efficiency and sustainability in marine activities.”
The minister, the guest of honour at the event, stated that accurate and up-to-date nautical charts are essential for safe navigation, helping to avoid hazards and reduce the rate of maritime accidents.
According to him, as Nigeria strives to balance economic growth with environmental protection, hydrographic information will be instrumental in managing maritime resources sustainably.
Speaking earlier, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, disclosed that ensuring safety within the nation’s maritime domain will create job opportunities, facilitate the exploitation of the vast strategic reserve of mineral resources, and reduce poverty in the country.
According to him, utilising the enormous blue economy potential led to the federal government’s establishment of the National Hydrographic Agency.
He said:
“These hydrographic vessels are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, enabling comprehensive and precise surveys that culminate into the production of updated navigational chats for maritime stakeholders.
“Undoubtedly, this would ensure safety within the nation’s maritime domain, create job opportunities as well as facilitate the exploitation of the vast strategic reserve of mineral resources towards ensuring the utilisation of the enormous Blue Economy potentials for poverty eradication in line with the president’s renewed Hope Agenda and economic prosperity of our dear country.”
While delivering the welcome address, Rear Admiral Ayodeji Olugbode, the federation’s Hydrographer and CEO of the National Hydrographic Agency, noted that Nigeria has made tangible progress in its quest for maritime excellence and added that there is more to come.
His words: ”This year’s theme for the celebration: ”Hydrographic information—Enhancing safety, efficiency and sustainability in marine activities” resonates quite profoundly with our national aspiration and commitment to fostering a blue economy for our benefit.
TimesNow.com.ng earlier reported that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed that it has begun working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to establish stable import exchange rates.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, June 18, 2024, to mark his one year in office.
Adeniyi spoke about the following reported distortions in business planning caused by constant changes in exchange rates in the past few months.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
