By Saminu Ibrahim
The National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) will on October 1, 2026, officially release three new nautical charts covering the approaches to Calabar, Jamestown and the Port of Calabar.
The development marks a major step in Nigeria’s efforts to expand and modernise its national nautical chart portfolio and provide authoritative navigational information for Nigerian waters.
The new chart series comprises NG5514 – Approaches to Calabar, NG5515 – Jamestown, and NG4255 – Port of Calabar.
According to the NHA, the charts provide updated navigational coverage from the approaches to Calabar through Jamestown and into the Port of Calabar limits, giving mariners current hydrographic information to support safe and efficient navigation along the strategic maritime corridor.
As part of the quality assurance process, the paper charts underwent technical assessment by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) to verify their 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 new products meet applicable technical and navigational requirements for their intended operational use.
The release of the NHA charts will coincide with the planned withdrawal of UKHO Admiralty Charts 3433 and 3434, which currently provide coverage of the Calabar area.
NHA and UKHO will therefore coordinate the transition 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 OO Fadahunsi, said the publication of the charts demonstrates Nigeria’s growing capacity to survey, chart and maintain its 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,” Fadahunsi said.
He noted that the Calabar maritime corridor is strategically important to commercial shipping and other maritime activities within Nigeria’s eastern maritime domain.
According to him, the availability of updated paper charts and ENCs will enhance navigational safety, support efficient vessel operations and strengthen maritime activities in the area.
The NHA said the release is part of its broader programme to progressively expand and modernise Nigeria’s national nautical chart portfolio.
It added that the agency 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.
Meanwhile, the three new charts will be officially available to mariners from October 1, 2026.
