NHA to Release Three New Nautical Charts for Calabar Maritime Corridor


By Aviashima Toom, Abuja 

The National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) will release three new nautical charts covering the Calabar maritime corridor on October 1, 2026, as Nigeria moves to expand authoritative chart coverage of its waters.

The new charts — NG5514 (Approaches to Calabar), NG5515 (Jamestown), and NG4255 (Port of Calabar) — will provide updated navigational information from the approaches to Calabar through Jamestown and into the Port of Calabar limits.

The release coincides with the planned withdrawal of UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Admiralty Charts 3433 and 3434, which currently provide chart coverage of the Calabar area.

According to the NHA, it is working with the UKHO to coordinate the transition and minimise any potential gap in authoritative navigational coverage for mariners operating in the area.

The agency said the paper charts underwent technical assessment by the UKHO as part of the quality assurance process, while the corresponding Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) were independently validated by the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts (IC-ENC).

The processes, the NHA said, are intended to ensure that the new products meet applicable technical and navigational requirements for operational use.

The Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the NHA, Rear Admiral OO Fadahunsi, described the development as an indication of 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 in Nigeria’s eastern maritime domain.

Fadahunsi said the availability of updated paper charts and ENCs would support safer navigation, more efficient vessel operations and broader maritime activities in the area.

The NHA said the release is part of its wider programme to expand and modernise Nigeria’s national nautical chart portfolio.

The agency added that it would continue to undertake 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 are scheduled to become officially available to mariners from October 1, 2026.

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