President Bola Tinubu lauded the efforts of the High Powered Presidential Committee (HPPC) on Nigeria’s extended continental shelf project, which reported significant progress in expanding Nigeria’s maritime boundaries in accordance with international law.
Receiving the report in Abuja, President Tinubu commended the team of experts for their dedication over the years in advancing the project, aimed at extending Nigeria’s maritime boundaries as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982.
According to Professor Larry Awosika, a marine scientist and member of the committee, and Surveyor Aliyu Omar, Secretary of HPPC, Nigeria’s submission to extend its continental shelf was approved by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), granting sovereignty over additional square kilometers of maritime territory.
President Tinubu highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, “The area approved for Nigeria is about 16,300 square kilometers, which is about five times the size of Lagos State.”
Surveyor Omar reiterated the importance of the approval and outlined two options for Nigeria to proceed.
“The first option is to finalize the registration with the UN Secretary-General and close everything, meaning that we are satisfied with what we got. The second option is to acquire more data, do a support write-up, and make a revised submission for further consideration,” stated Surveyor Omar.
Professor Awosika emphasized the meticulous scientific research and diplomatic efforts that solidified Nigeria’s legal rights over the newly acquired territory. He highlighted the economic potential, including hydrocarbons, gas, solid minerals, and diverse species inhabiting the area.
However, Professor Awosika cautioned against total disclosure of sensitive data acquired during surveys, emphasizing the need to monetize the information to recover project expenses.
President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the experts for their diligence, recognizing the significance of the achievement for Nigeria’s economic and strategic interests.
This milestone marks a significant advancement for Nigeria in asserting its maritime sovereignty and harnessing the economic potential of its extended continental shelf.