The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is positioning Nigeria for a significant breakthrough in the global blue economy by targeting an estimated $9–12 million in annual revenue from the international market for Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs).
This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Defence His Excellency Bello Matawalle during the celebration of World Hydrography Day and the West African Hydrographic Summit held in Abuja. At the event, Nigeria officially launched the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts West Africa Regional Office and Training Centre establishing itself as a key player in the global ENC industry currently valued at $90 million annually.
With this move, Nigeria joins an elite group of ENC-producing and validating nations including the United States the United Kingdom Brazil and Australia. The project marks a major leap in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aligning defence economic diversification and maritime safety under a unified vision.
Matawalle noted that the initiative will boost safe maritime navigation facilitate marine spatial planning support environmental and climate science and enhance coastal defence. He emphasized that seabed mapping and ENC distribution are not only commercial ventures but also critical tools for national security and international collaboration.
President Tinubu’s commitment to unlocking Nigeria’s maritime and hydrographic potential is expected to create new streams of revenue improve coastal monitoring and position the country as a strategic hub in the emerging global blue economy.
With this development Nigeria is not just navigating its waters it is steering toward long-term prosperity digital maritime leadership and global competitiveness.
