By Linus Aleke
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday applauded the Nigerian Navy for its current milestone in surveying and charting Nigeria’s offshore waters.

The military said that some of Nigeria’s offshore charts currently in use were conducted in 1938 by the United Kingdom Hydrographic office.

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Benard Onyeuko, a Major General in the Nigerian Army and incumbent Director of Defence Media Operations said this during a press conference in Abuja.

He noted that with the current achievement, Nigeria has joined the elite group of chart-producing nations in the world.

“On 23 March 2022, the Nigerian Navy recorded a milestone in the indigenous systematic survey and charting of our offshore waters. The commencement of the indigenous survey is necessary to support the Federal Government’s economic diversification initiative through maritime security, maritime trade, and transport.

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“The indigenous surveying and charting will also lead to safety on our waters and boost the confidence of mariners.

“Hitherto Nigeria sourced its charts from Europe. Before this time all the navigational survey and charts was surveyed and charted by the United Kingdom Hydrographic office. Some of them were conducted as back as 1938. Furthermore, the Nigerian Navy took delivery of a new Ship NNS KADA. The change of flag was carried out in UAE by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Naval Staff”.

He also disclosed, “The Ship is billed to stop over in 5 ports in different for flag show before it berths in Nigeria. With the acquisition of this Landing Ship Tank (LST), it will give more impetus for aggressive combat patrol, policing, and other duties in our coastal waters by the Nigerian Navy”.