Politics
THE National Boundary Commission (NBC) says it will operationalise the Extended Continental Shelf approved by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in 2025.
The Director-General (D-G) of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, at the 2024 end of year media briefing.
Adaji, represented by the Director of Internal Boundaries, Dr Bulus Emmanuel, explained that the extended continental shelf would be of massive economic benefit to Nigeria considering its rich natural and mineral resources.
He added that a capacity-building for members of staff, including officers training in Tanzania, which focused on managing the extended continental shelf had been conducted.
He also said that the commission would develop a road map for sustainable exploitation of maritime resources in compliance with international laws.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the continental shelf is the natural submerged prolongation of a country’s land territory.
NAN also recalls that the High-Powered Presidential Committee had on May 14, briefed President Bola Tinubu on the approval of the extended continental shelf by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).
The extension of the continental shelf was beyond 200 nautical miles and sovereignty over additional 16,300 square kilometres of maritime boundaries, about five times the size of Lagos.
On the achievements of the commission on maritime boundaries management in 2024, the D-G said that NBC had advanced Nigeria’s maritime interests, thereby fostering peaceful boundary resolutions.
He said that boundary negotiations had resumed on the Nigeria-Ghana maritime boundary, adding that a Joint Technical Committee was also established and expected to hold its first meeting in 2025.
He added that engagements for sustainable resource management in the Gulf of Guinea, over the Nigeria/Equatorial Guinea maritime boundary, was also scheduled for early 2025.
“On deep seabed mining, a sensitisation workshop was conducted in September to position Nigeria to seize opportunities in this emerging sector.
“We have also facilitated the gazette of host communities along Nigeria’s shoreline and collaborated with the National Space Research and Development Agency on geospatial data management systems,” he said.
On international boundaries, Adaji said that several meetings had been held to resolve the longstanding issues along the Nigeria-Benin international boundary.
He added that significant pace had been recorded in addressing issues along the Nigeria-Niger international boundary with the sensitisation of communities in Adare and Maigatari sectors.
“This was in preparation for the construction of 40 intermediate pillars in Jigawa. These pillars, constructed between existing primary pillars, aim to make the boundary more visible and reduce disputes.
“On the Nigeria-Cameroon international boundary, the commission has completed the construction of 254 pillars in Borno along the Nigeria-Cameroon boundary.
“The commission also hosted the 6th Extraordinary Session of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission in Yaoundé and undertook confidence-building initiatives in Adamawa, Borno, and Cross River states.
“Field assessments in Adamawa have addressed disagreement areas, culminating in the 30th Project Steering Committee meeting in Lagos, where recommendations were made for resolving disputes,” he added.(NAN)
A.I
Dec. 20, 2024
Tags: Dr Bulus Emmanuel Mr Adamu Adaji National Boundary Commission
