At the June 21 World Hydrography Day (WHD) commemorated by the Nigerian Navy in Abuja, various stakeholders, and private and government agencies showcased products and services relevant to the National Hydrographic Agency towards a sustainable Blue Economy.

National Inland Waterways Authority

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), intending to make 2000 kilometres of the Inland Waterways navigable under the current government, was an exhibitor at the WHD.

The agency has stepped up a nationwide network of permanent electronic tide gauge stations, located in some parts of the country, for the accurate and timely measurement of water levels, and environmental and weather information.

While at the NIWA’s stand, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar and the Chief of Navy Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla were briefed on the effect of the tide gauge stations on the establishment of chat datums on the inland and coastal waterways nationwide.

The agency in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy had successfully conducted a hydrographic survey of a section of the lower River Niger from Lokoja to Burutu in Delta State, covering a total of 594 kilometres.

Anticipating future collaboration with the Nigerian Navy to survey other inland waterways of the country currently unmapped, the NIWA showcased an electronic real-time tide gauge of its stations where the ocean tides, windspeed, temperature humility etc., were analysed.

“Every nine seconds it updates itself so we know the water level situation. It measures the density of the water and equally has meteorological information stationed on it, so we know the windspeed, atmospheric pressure… This goes very far in improving safety in the waterways.

“If you want to travel, all you have to do is to check the data, and it is at that point that we transmit the data to the metrological agencies for weather forecast.

“They do not have the network we have, so we feed their network, while they feed us with weather forecast which we then use to issue alerts on safety measures at waters,” the NIWA representative said.

The tide gauge stations are currently located in Lagos, Bayelsa, Kogi, and Anambra States, and according to NIWA two are expected this year in Calabar and Ondo States respectively. For security purposes, it is uncertain if the data would be restricted.

However, the agency expressed plans to foster inter-agency collaboration and transmission of nautical publications for ease of navigation and safety.

Geodetic Offshore Services Limited

Another exhibitor at the WHD was Geodetic Offshore Services Limited (GOSL).

The Survey Team Lead for GOSL, Muyiwa Animashawun, told THE WHISTLER that GOSL offers sea bed surveys, essential for gathering detailed information about the underwater landscape.

The organisation specialises in offshore survey services, geophysical and geotechnical surveys, using instruments like Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROVs) to carry out inspections and other marine services.

Animashawun said the organisation,  having operated for two decades also has capabilities in weather forecasting and has conducted milestone surveys for clients like Total and Shell.

“Recently, we conducted a milestone survey for the West Africa Gas Pipeline company, which was 1,200 kilometres of pipeline between Nigeria, Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana and it took us about 14 days, which is also a record time and we delivered to the astonishment of the client.

“We have also delivered milestone surveys for Total. They had groundbreaking in one of their fields, we did the pipe play and platform installation, and that platform is producing now and many others.

The Lead representative noted that these achievements were predicated on experience and deployment of state-of-the-art equipment.

Speaking of the challenges encountered in the waterways, Animashawun highlighted militancy and lack of sensitization as the major ones, adding that rural communities need increased awareness of the importance of conducting surveys and its future benefits for fishermen and the communities.

“Also, there is a need for security in the waterways for things to be able to work. Typically, when we go out to work, we need gunboats to escort us before we can do our work. I look forward to the day when we will not need gunboats guarding us,” he noted.

Asseco Nigeria

Asseco Nigeria is a software company with a speciality in software production and development. The organisation showcased its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with a flight endurance of over 20 hours at the WHD.

During the exhibition, Asseco said it was contracted by the Lagos State Government to supply two UAVs equipped with Asseco Ground Control Station (GCS) software to update the aerial maps of the entire state.

“This is the first mapping of such a large area in Africa, reaching over 3600sqkm2, utilising drones. The mapping of Lagos State is a pioneering endeavour, a huge technology opportunity to accelerate the region’s development,” Asseco said.

The UAV is said to capture high-resolution, geo-referenced aerial photographs (orthophoto), with a high-resolution image showing the land, sea and other physical attributes of Lagos.

These images are then processed and made available on a geo-portal which allows for more effective planning of the state’s development, management of its spatial resources as well and monitoring of environmental pollution.

“A total of over 3600sqkm2 which is about 90 per cent of the Lagos State landmass inclusion of the borders surrounding the state has been mapped to date,” Asseco noted.

Other organisations offering onshore and offshore surveys, geospatial, geophysical and general technical surveys and manpower training, who showcased their products and services at the WHD include Starfix, Polaris Integrated and Geosolutions Limited (PIGL), Harry Hydrographical & Land Services Ltd, Sesto Elemento Services Limited among others.

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