President Bola Tinubu commended the High Powered Presidential Committee (HPPC) on Nigeria’s Extended Continental Shelf Project for their dedication and hard work over many years.
The committee successfully secured an extension of Nigeria’s maritime boundaries in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982.
Tinubu expressed his gratitude to the team of experts in Abuja after receiving their report, which included a United Nations approval granting Nigeria approximately 16,300 square kilometers in additional maritime territory, equivalent to about five times the size of Lagos State.
During the meeting, Tinubu listened to technical presentations by Professor Larry Awosika, a marine scientist and committee member, and Surveyor Aliyu Omar, Secretary of the HPPC. The experts informed the president that the United Nations had approved Nigeria’s submission, granting sovereignty over additional square kilometers of maritime territory.
Omar outlined the available options for Nigeria following the approval, emphasizing that Nigeria would keep what has been approved, and discussed the process for finalizing the registration with the UN Secretary-General.
Awosika highlighted the economic potential of the newly acquired territory, including hydrocarbons, gas, solid minerals, and a wide variety of sedentary species, while also stressing the need to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive data acquired during surveys.
Tinubu expressed his appreciation for the experts' efforts and emphasized the significance of the achievement for Nigeria’s economic and strategic interests. He commended the team for their work and stressed the importance of taking advantage of the extended territory for the country's benefit. Tinubu also expressed his gratitude for gaining additional territory for the country without resorting to war, highlighting the significant benefits for Nigeria.
He concluded by pledging to pursue the best option for the country to make the most of this achievement.
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