The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has placed hydrography at the centre of national maritime priorities.
Matawalle made the position known on Wednesday in Abuja when he received the Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hydrographic Agency, Rear Admiral OO Fadahunsi, who led a management delegation on a courtesy visit to the Minister.
The minister, in a statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, said the Federal Government remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s hydrographic system for improved marine navigation, defence operations and ocean-based economic activities.
He stressed that the National Hydrographic Agency is critical to Nigeria’s maritime ambitions, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, where issues of security and resource management remain sensitive.
According to him, the agency’s work is central to the country’s emerging Blue Economy agenda, which seeks to expand maritime trade and ensure sustainable exploitation of ocean resources.
Matawalle sthat with existing policy frameworks under the Renewed Hope administration, Nigeria was positioned to take a leadership role in hydrography within West Africa.
He added that government support would be sustained to improve navigational safety, enhance maritime security and deepen scientific data generation for national development.
Rear Admiral OO Fadahunsi, in his remarks, commended the minister for what he described as consistent support and visionary leadership.
He pledged the agency’s readiness to work with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to strengthen intergovernmental coordination and improve hydrographic resilience.
The meeting, according to both parties, focused on strategies to expand Nigeria’s hydrographic capacity in line with global maritime standards and national development goals.
