To ensure that navigational safety and security occupies a prime position in operations at the nation’s Seaports, the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has stated that it would collaborate with stakeholders towards the sustenance of eff ective hydrographic charting of the navigable channels. Th e management has also assured operators in the sub-sector and international community that it would uphold the highest standards in all operational activities in order to attract more businesses.
Th e Managing Director of the (NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman stated this when a team of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society (NHS) paid her a courtesy call led by Commodore C.E. Okafor, a Navy Hydrographer and President of the Nigerian Society of Hydrographers at the Corporate Headquarters of the organisation, Marina, Lagos. Speaking during event, the MD expressed desire of the NPA to synergize with the Nigerian Navy in the actualization of a safe anchorage across board in national maritime activities. She was optimistic regarding the dividends that would be accrued to the country in updating regularly available channel charting records through cooperation with the Nigerian Navy. She tasked the visiting team to step up operations concerning safety and security of lives and cargoes within the Ports community.
Commodore Okafor in his response, pledged to support the NPA’s eff orts in enthroning best practices whilst stating that the Hydrographic Society looks forward to a mutually benefi cial relationship with the Organisation. It would be recalled that the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigerian Navy collaborated during the survey and charting of the navigable channels of the nation’s waters in the years 2010 and 2011 respectively. Th e Hydrographers requested the NPA to sustain the archiving of its materials for eff ective use, stressing that some of the materials available for use dates back to the 1892 hydrographic charting of our navigable waters
