The Federal Government of Nigeria expresses its satisfaction with the United Nations’ decision to expand Nigeria’s continental shelf, stretching it from 200 nautical miles to 220 nautical miles.
Dr. Bashir Jamoh, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), commends the UN’s approval of Nigeria’s request to extend its maritime territory beyond the standard 200 nautical miles from the nation’s coastline.
In an official statement by Osagie Edward, Assistant Director of Public Relations at NIMASA, the agency notes that this development aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, anticipating positive impacts on Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Adnan Rashid Nasser Al-Azri, Chairman of the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), announces the approval, emphasising its significance in allowing Nigeria to redefine its territorial sovereignty in the Gulf of Guinea. This, in turn, grants the nation the right to explore the rich carbon and marine resources believed to be abundant in the area.
Dr. Jamoh, in response to this milestone, highlights the economic benefits the extension holds for Nigeria. He states, “To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time the United Nations has ever approved additional maritime territory for Nigeria. We welcome this development, as it would significantly boost our economic fortunes. Kudos to the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, and I extend my congratulations to our Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON.”
The UN clarifies that a coastal state’s continental shelf includes the seabed and subsoil of submarine areas beyond its territorial sea, extending through the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin. This expansion holds significance up to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines used to measure the breadth of the territorial sea, where the outer edge of the continental margin does not reach that distance.