Oluchi Chibuzor
The National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) is set to release three new nautical charts covering the approaches to Calabar, Jamestown and the Port of Calabar on October 1, 2026, as Nigeria moves to strengthen authoritative chart coverage of its waters.
The release would coincide with the planned withdrawal by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) of Admiralty Charts 3433 and 3434, which currently provide navigational coverage of the Calabar area.
The development is expected to mark a significant transition to Nigerian-produced nautical charts for the Calabar maritime corridor and further expand the country’s national nautical chart portfolio.
The three new charts are NG5514 – Approaches to Calabar, NG5515 – Jamestown, and NG4255 – Port of Calabar.
According to a statement by the NHA, the charts collectively provide updated navigational coverage from the approaches to Calabar through Jamestown and into the Port of Calabar limits, providing mariners with current hydrographic information to support safe and efficient navigation along the maritime corridor.
As part of the quality assurance process ahead of their release, the paper charts underwent technical assessment by the UKHO to verify consistency with adjoining chart coverage.
The corresponding Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) were also independently validated by the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts (IC-ENC).
The agency said the processes provide assurance that the products meet applicable technical and navigational requirements for their intended operational use.
The NHA and UKHO will also coordinate the transition following the withdrawal of Admiralty Charts 3433 and 3434 to ensure continuity of authoritative navigational coverage and minimise the possibility of any gap in chart availability to the maritime community.
Commenting on the development, the Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of NHA, Rear Admiral O.O. Fadahunsi, said the publication of the charts demonstrated Nigeria’s growing capacity to undertake hydrographic surveys and produce navigational products to international standards.
“The publication of these charts is more than the release of new navigational products. It demonstrates Nigeria’s growing capacity to survey, chart and maintain our waterways to internationally recognised standards.
“Our priority is to ensure that mariners operating within Nigerian waters have access to accurate, current, and authoritative information required for safe and efficient navigation,” he added.
The agency said the Calabar maritime corridor remains strategically important to commercial shipping and other maritime activities within Nigeria’s eastern maritime domain.
It added that the availability of updated paper charts and ENCs would enhance the hydrographic information available to mariners while supporting navigational safety, efficient vessel operations and other maritime activities in the area.
The release is part of the NHA’s broader programme to expand and modernise Nigeria’s national nautical chart portfolio.
Under the programme, the agency said it would continue to conduct hydrographic surveys, produce new paper charts and ENCs, and maintain existing products through regular updates as new hydrographic and maritime safety information becomes available.
The three new charts will be officially available to mariners from October 1, 2026.