Oceanographic Data Management Practices in Nigerian Research Institutions

Robust oceanographic data management is fundamental to building cumulative scientific knowledge, enabling operational ocean services, and supporting evidence-based coastal governance in Nigeria. This study assesses the current state of oceanographic data management practices in nine Nigerian research and academic institutions, including the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, and selected university oceanography departments in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Calabar. A structured assessment questionnaire covering data collection protocols, metadata standards, data storage infrastructure, quality control procedures, data sharing policies, and archiving practices is administered to designated data managers in each institution. In-depth interviews with senior scientists and institutional managers provide qualitative context. Findings are analysed against the standards of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission's International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange programme. Results are expected to reveal fragmented data management practices, reliance on outdated proprietary software, inadequate metadata documentation, and near-total absence of open data sharing policies. Physical infrastructure for long-term data preservation is assessed as critically deficient in six of nine institutions surveyed. The study proposes a National Oceanographic Data Management Framework specifying minimum data standards, mandating participation in IODE data exchange, and recommending the establishment of a National Oceanographic Data Centre under the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research. Keywords: oceanographic data management, Nigerian research institutions, IODE, data standards, ocean governance