2023 World Hydrography Day: Navy Reiterates Plans to Facilitate Effective Ocean Governance
Anthonia N. Okwuolise, Abuja
The Chief of Policy and Plans of Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, who represented the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo said the Digital Twin of the Ocean is a near real-time and future digital representation of the physical, chemical, biological, and socio-economical dimensions of the ocean, to facilitate well-informed decisions for effective ocean governance.
He said that the aims of the 2023 World Hydrography Day is to sensitise Nigerians on the importance of World Hydrography Day and to facilitate effective ocean governance in the country and ensure that the youth picks interest in Hydrography.
He made the assertions while addressing Journalists on behalf of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo during
the 2023 World Hydrography Day Celebration at Naval Headquarters, in Abuja, with the theme: “Hydrography – Underpinning the Digital Twin of the Ocean”.
According to him, the objective of addressing Journalists is to highlight the activities lined up for the celebration of the 2023 World Hydrography Day in Nigeria
He informed that “ocean is everything to us. It sustains life, provides food, energy, recreation and jobs for us.
“Unfortunately, overexploitation, loss of biodiversity and habitats, pollution, marine littering, and climate change issues, among others, are threatening the sustainable development of the ocean.
“It is increasingly becoming difficult for policy makers to guarantee the use of ocean resources in a way that meets the needs of the present generation, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
“Hence, by producing the digital twin of the ocean, multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, fishing communities, environmentalists, and corporate organizations among others, who have competing interests and goals within the ocean, can be aware of the importance of sustainable ocean development and, consequently, take appropriate actions.
“Through digital twins, policy makers obtain valuable insights into the current state and future projections of ocean ecosystems and the human activities that impact them. This information helps policy makers to evolve a more equitable and sustainable ocean management strategies that support the coexistence of multiple stakeholders in the same ocean space, thereby facilitating healthy communication and collaboration that promotes sustainable use of the ocean resources.
“It is a common knowledge that marine litters, indiscriminate marine resource exploitation, and inadequate ocean management tools are threatening sustainable use of the ocean in Nigeria.
” Therefore, developing the digital twin of Nigeria’s waters in particular, and the entire Gulf of Guinea in general will provide the needed interface between the policy makers, coastal communities, maritime security agencies, researchers, marine exploration and exploitation companies, as well as other maritime users that will foster the right action for sustainable ocean governance and uses in Nigeria.
“Development of Digital Twin of the Ocean requires the integration of a wide range of real-time and historic data sources like ocean observatory data, static data from geology and human activities, as well as hydrographic datasets.
” Currently, there are several historic and real-time datasets domiciled in many Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Nigerian Governments, as well as private oil companies, that could be integrated into the digital twin of the ocean for Nigeria.
“In the NN, for instance, there exist several marine geospatial data acquired over time during many hydrographic survey campaigns executed by the NN. Data such as tides and tidal streams currents, bathymetry, nature of seabed, temperature, conductivity and salinity of water bodies among other were acquired during the survey of Nigeria’s offshore, coastal and inland waters for which navigational charts and other products have either been produced or at the process of being produced.
According to him, by the statutory responsibilities of the Nigerian Ports Authority, National Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, National Boundary Commission, NiMet, NIMASA, among others, they acquire important datasets that could be integrated to develop a Digital Twin of the Ocean in Nigeria.
“However, these data are either lying idle at various agencies or lost all together. Therefore, conversations during the 2023 World Hydrography Day celebration in Nigeria is intended to awaken our collective consciousness towards pooling marine datasets together to develop an infrastructure that will serve the collective good of all stakeholders for sustainable ocean development in Nigeria.
The hydrographer of the Federation, Rear Admiral Chukwuemeka Okafor, in his speech said that works are ongoing to chart Nigeria’s waters to open up rivers, creeks and waterways to provide adequate maritime security as well as boost economic activities around these areas.
