Nigeria has received approval from the United Nations to extend its continental shelf by 16,300 square kilometres, a territory five times the size of Lagos State.
President Bola Tinubu received the report from the High Powered Presidential Committee (HPPC) on Nigeria’s Extended Continental Shelf Project on Tuesday, marking a significant achievement for the nation’s maritime boundaries and economic potential.
The UN’s approval, based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, grants Nigeria sovereignty over this additional maritime territory, expanding its jurisdiction beyond the existing 200 nautical miles.
The project, initiated in 2009, reached this milestone after years of dedicated scientific and diplomatic efforts.
In a presentation to the President, Professor Larry Awosika, a marine scientist, and Surveyor Aliyu Omar, Secretary of the HPPC, detailed the extensive research and negotiations that led to the UN’s decision.
Omar outlined two options available to Nigeria following the approval: finalizing the registration with the UN Secretary-General, which would take about a year, or acquiring additional data for a revised submission, potentially extending the process to four years.
In simpler terms, Nigeria can either finalize the current approval with the UN, securing the newly gained territory within a year, or gather more data to support a revised submission, which could further extend the shelf and take about four years. Regardless of the chosen path, Nigeria will maintain the newly approved area.
President Tinubu expressed his gratitude to the committee for their hard work and dedication.
Ambassador Hassan Tukur, Chairman of the HPPC; Chief of Staff to the President, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, were also present at the meeting.
