By Joy Finnih

West Africa sits on an ocean economy worth billions of dollars, yet the region still lacks a complete understanding of what lies beneath its own waters. One of the emerging voices making this case is Olayinka Oshikoya, a Nigerian hydrographer trained in the United States. Oshikoya recently earned a master’s degree in Hydrographic Science from the University of Southern Mississippi, one of the world’s leading institutions for ocean mapping.

His work focuses on seabed characterization, multibeam surveys, autonomous underwater vehicles and machine learning techniques used to classify features on the ocean floor. The same tools shaping offshore wind development and port modernization in the US Gulf Coast, he argues, are urgently needed in West Africa.

According to him, the urgency is clear. Much of West Africa’s seabed remains undercharted or outdated, especially outside major ports. Nigeria, the region’s maritime hub, still struggles with fragmented and project based surveying. A hydrographic research paper assessing the state of mapping in Nigeria describes operations as “profit oriented projects and uncoordinated studies scattered across the nation.” In effect, Oshikoya notes, hydrography occurs only when a private dredging or offshore contract demands it. There is no long term national seabed mapping program driven by public policy, regional planning or blue economy strategy.

He warns that the consequences of this neglect are substantial. Outdated bathymetry increases shipping risks, raises insurance premiums and forces vessels to reduce cargo loads. During one survey in a Nigerian waterway, hydrographers discovered more than 100 uncharted wrecks lying directly in navigational routes. These unseen hazards slow maritime trade, disrupt port logistics and represent costly liabilities for port authorities already struggling to expand capacity.

For Oshikoya, this gap is not limited to Nigeria. Across West Africa, many countries lack hydrographic capacity and rely on foreign offices to produce their nautical charts. He argues that this reliance undermines maritime sovereignty and slows economic growth. Seabed data determines everything from where fiber optic cable companies lay their subsea lines, to where offshore wind developers can invest, to how ports can expand their draught to attract larger vessels. Without modern bathymetry, developers face uncertainty that deters long term engagement.

His proposed solution lies in a regional model rather than isolated national efforts. Oshikoya’s position mirrors Admiral Ayodeji Olugbode’s call for integrated mapping: “We don’t want to just map Nigeria and forget about our neighbors… We will leave no one behind.” Oshikoya believes a unified West African seabed database would transform the region’s maritime posture, where information gathered in Lagos benefits Dakar and data from Côte d’Ivoire strengthens planning in Port Harcourt. He highlights that shared training and open data structures would allow the region to speak with one voice in global ocean governance.

He notes that technology is moving quickly. Nigeria and a few neighboring states have begun adopting modern tools, including unmanned surface vehicles and artificial intelligence driven processing. According to the Nigerian Navy, several maritime technologies are already being deployed to enhance survey efficiency and coverage. Oshikoya explains that these tools enable continuous mapping, reduce man hours at sea and expose fewer personnel to offshore hazards.

However, he stresses that technology alone will not close the gap. Academic assessments identify a deeper challenge: the lack of a permanent hydrographic education and institutional development framework. In Oshikoya’s view, the region needs a pipeline of trained hydrographers, not just equipment purchases. His own career reflects what is possible when world class training meets local ambition. Working with autonomous vehicles and advanced data processing at USM has exposed him to systems that could be replicated in West Africa if institutions commit to them.

The path forward, he argues, is to treat hydrography as infrastructure. Nations invest in roads because transportation fuels commerce. In the blue economy, the seabed is the highway. Mapping it is the construction phase. Failing to map it is equivalent to building a city with no road network; movement becomes slower, riskier and more expensive.

Oshikoya belongs to a generation of African specialists pushing their countries to adopt this mindset. He believes the region must transition from isolated project driven surveys to a coordinated seabed mapping mission that spans national borders. To him, hydrography is not simply data collection; it is economic intelligence, the foundation upon which safe navigation, offshore investment, climate resilience and environmental protection are built.

For West Africa, he concludes, the seabed may well prove to be the most valuable resource still hidden in plain sight.