He joined the Navy in 1973, and trained in Basic Hydrography in India and in Hydrographic Engineering, Oceanography and Marine Environment in the Naval Oceanographic Office, United States in 1976.
In this role, he coordinated formation of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society, promoted sustainable Maritime Environment policies and was responsible for developing a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan.
[2] In 1984, Joe Abulu was appointed the first Chief Servant of Mighty of God Community, a Catholic organization based in Kaduna.
[1] On 11 October 1991 he inaugurated an Advisory Committee of civil society leaders to define how to improve the governmental infrastructure of the new State.
Without current charts, foreign vessels see Nigeria's territorial waters as dangerous, and therefore increase their freight charges to cover the risk.