Handover of a weather station to the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic School

Handing over of the weather station to the school’s director, CDR Abashi

The Defence Mission of the French Embassy in Nigeria has handed over to the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic School (NNHS) a professional mini-meteorological station to contribute to the Navy’s global effort to address threats in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Nigerian Navy Hydrographic School (NNHS) in Port Harcourt is an institution established in the 1980s.
Placed under the responsibility of the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Office (NNHO), it is of particular importance today for the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy, Admiral EZ GAMBO. Indeed, this establishment trains the cartographers and hydrographers who man the very modern hydrographic and oceanographic vessel NNS LANA, delivered last May by the French company OCEA.

The commissioning of this technological flagship contributes directly to the global effort led by the Navy and the country’s authorities to regain control of its EEZ in the face of the threats that currently undermine economic activities in the Gulf of Guinea (piracy, illegal fishing, etc.).

As a sign of support to this dynamic, the Abuja Defence Mission handed over a professional mini-meteorological station on behalf of the Director of OCEA, Mr. JOUASSARD. The mission was represented on this occasion by the naval advisor and the military cooperant in charge of the development of the French language within the Nigerian army of the French Embassy in Nigeria.

This precious tool was very much awaited by the director of the school, CDR ABASHI who thanked the French military cooperation for having obtained this sponsorship.

The NNHS intends to continue its modernisation in the coming weeks, in particular with the construction of a new quay. This major infrastructure will enable it to eventually accommodate the NNS LANA as well as its smaller sister-ship, recently ordered by the Nigerian Navy from OCEA.

Nigeria is currently the only country in West Africa to have a real hydrographic capacity, which is essential for any coastal country to diversify its economy by exploiting the potential of its EEZ and develop the concept of “Blue Economy”.

Source and photo credit : French Embassy in Nigeria