Recently, the United Nations announced its accession to Nigeria’s request for the extension of the nation’s continental shelf.
The continental shelf of a sovereign state comprises the seabed and subsoil of the marine areas that extend beyond its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin.
The Chairman of the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), Adnan Rashid Al-Azri, who made the announcement, said following a successful submission, Nigeria’s continental shelf had now been extended from 200 nautical miles to 220 nautical miles.
The journey to this development started on May 9, 2009, when Nigeria submitted its request following the new rules of engagement of Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The convention provides that littoral states that pass the appurtenance qualify to make applications backed by geological and geophysical data to the UN.
Powerful Nigerians were behind banditry – Alake
Powerful Nigerians were behind banditry – Alake
Unfortunately, the processing of the application came to a standstill as a result of the failure of the Nigerian authorities to answer some of the queries raised by a UN committee to examine the application. Similarly, the government of the day failed to provide the necessary funding to the local committee that was pursuing the application.
However, in November 2015, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated a Presidential Committee under the chairmanship of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to pursue the application.
The success of the application means that Nigeria now has an additional 10 nautical miles of its continental shelf. The most significant aspect is the fact that the country can now extend its sovereign territory in the Gulf of Guinea to accommodate the new area, which is known to contain abundant carbon and marine solid resources.
This is indeed a remarkable milestone that will benefit generations of Nigerians.
We note that achieving this milestone requires a high degree of expertise in the science of geology, geophysics, geodesy and hydrology.
We, therefore, commend all those who worked to realize this important milestone for Nigeria, particularly at a time when the country is in dire need of any additional sources of revenue for the government. We have seen how countries go to war over such territories, but we are lucky to have ours without any rancour.
Daily Trust, however, believes that the more important aspect of this achievement is to ensure that Nigeria exploits fully the resources that are within this area for the benefit of the nation.
This task must begin with a detailed study of the territory gained in terms of what oil and gas, fishing or other minerals there are to be exploited by Nigeria. It is apt that the present administration decided to create a new ministry in charge of the marine economy. It is expected that the minister and his officials will rise to the present challenge to ensure that the nation benefits from the immense resources available in the new territory.
Following a detailed feasibility study, the government might also need to empower local companies to take advantage of any opportunities to expand both revenues and jobs. The private sector has an important role to play in the exploitation and use of resources that abound in the area as it happens in other countries. It is therefore a challenge to our businessmen in fishing and marine business to rise to the occasion and for the new ministry to help provide an enabling environment.
It is sad that we have allowed foreigners to dominate and exploit our minerals and other natural resources, with devastating consequences to our country.
Furthermore, our scientists and researchers also have a role to play. They should take the challenge of taking their research to the area to exploit the potential that abound.
This is also a challenge to our security agencies to up their game in the protection of our territorial waters. The Gulf of Guinea has been well known for its insecurity due to the brazen activities of pirates. The extra territory gained by Nigeria means we need to provide equipment and training to our security operatives to ensure the area is protected from illegal exploitation by unscrupulous elements.
It also means that the relevant security agencies and bodies have to rise to the occasion of this new challenge. We should not allow this gain to be lost as a result of the incompetency or corruption of any official saddled with the task of protecting our territory.
Nigeria now has an opportunity to broaden its source of income away from oil. This opportunity should not be allowed to slip, especially at a time when we need it most.
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