By Godwin Oritse, Vivian Nwokedi & Sarah Moshe
Nigerian hydrographers has concluded plans to partner with the management of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, with a view to training more hydrogra-phers for the Nigerian maritime industry.

Speaking at the Lagos zone of the society, the group’s vice president, Surveyor Olumide Omotosho, said that through the collabora-tive efforts of both organisations training will commerce on categories ‘A’ and ‘B’ of the International Hydro-graphic Organisation programme in Nigeria.

Omotosho disclosed that the University of Lagos has also concluded plans to have an IHO certified engineering department.

He explained that the society is making effort to bridge the wide gap between the up coming hydrographers and the currently aging ones who are almost retiring.

He warned that if urgent steps are not taken to bridge the gap, it could spell doom for the entire nation, adding that Nigeria may resort to importing hydrogra-phers to chart its waters.

His said: “By 2012 we should be able to have an IHO certified category ‘B’ programme in Nigeria. Ghana is already pursuing a category ‘A’ programme.”

Also speaking at the meeting, the hydrogra-pher of the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Abubakar Inuwa, told Vanguard that the country has been very lucky as it has not had any major marine accident, noting that a single marine mishap could have a devastating effect on the entire eco-system.

He noted that hydro-graphic exercise is an expensive venture, adding that most the equipment in Nigeria are obsolete.

He said: “We have not had a major accident in Nigeria. We should have our waters well charted, because the Nigerian Navy has the personnel but the problem is that most of our equipment are obsolete.”