The National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) will on October 1, 2026, release three new nautical charts covering the approaches to Calabar, Jamestown and the Port of Calabar, in a move aimed at strengthening authoritative navigational coverage of Nigeria’s maritime waters.
The new chart series comprised NG5514 – Approaches to Calabar, NG5515 – Jamestown, and NG4255 – Port of Calabar, providing updated hydrographic information from the approaches to Calabar through Jamestown and into the Port of Calabar limits.
The development coincided 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.
According to the NHA, the transition will be coordinated with the UKHO to ensure continuity of authoritative chart coverage and minimise any potential gap in navigational information available to the maritime community.
As part of the quality assurance process ahead of the release, the paper charts underwent technical assessment by the UKHO to verify consistency with adjoining chart coverage, while the corresponding Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) were independently validated by the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts (IC-ENC).
Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the NHA, Rear Admiral OO Fadahunsi, said the publication of the charts demonstrated Nigeria’s growing capacity to survey, chart and maintain its waterways in line with internationally recognised standards.
He said the agency’s priority was to ensure that mariners operating in Nigerian waters had access to accurate, current and authoritative information required for safe and efficient navigation.
Fadahunsi noted that the Calabar maritime corridor remained strategically important to commercial shipping and other maritime activities within Nigeria’s eastern maritime domain.
He added that the availability of updated paper charts and ENCs would enhance navigational safety, support efficient vessel operations and strengthen maritime activities within the area.
The NHA said the release formed part of its broader programme to progressively expand and modernise Nigeria’s national nautical chart portfolio.
The agency stated that 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 are scheduled to become officially available to mariners from October 1, 2026.
