Statistics have revealed that African Coastal states have actually not taken any remarkable steps (s) towards realising the benefits derivable from the abundant potential of marine mineral resources which include noduiles sulptrides,   phosphorites and cobalt rich ferromanganese crust within the area of national jurisdiction, even in area between states bordering the south Atlantic ocean.

This to some extend have become a source of concern to maritime experts, and of course notable authorities that are interested in African countries waking up to exploit as well as benefit in the abundance of mineral resources in the deep sea marine environment.

As part of this efforts to encourage African nations to explore the deep seabed mineral resources, the Secretary General of the international Seabed Authority (ISA) His Excellency, Nii Allotey Odunton has been scheduled to address the next Heads of State Meeting of the African union on the marine mineral resources and the need for the region to be actively engaged in the exploration and exploitation of the deep seabed mineral resources in the area.

The move was as a result of recommendation put forward by participants at an international sensitisation seminar on the works of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Abuja.

ISA Secretary General read the decisions and the 12 point recommendation reached at the seminar, and also announced that Africa member states of ISA should facilitate the immediate development of Intra-African and International cooperation to promote as well as develop marine exploration and exploitation.

Several players in the transport and indeed the maritime sub-sector have expressed the need for African countries to actually wake up to the challenge of exploiting the deep seabed mineral potentials, even though it has lagged behind in the past.

The Nigerians transport minister, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Bio has opined that the inability of African countries and indeed government to explore the vast resources has contributed to underdevelopment of the region over the years, and has urged scientist to join other countries in exploring the seabed recourses, and also assured of governments readiness to support ISA towards ensuring that deep sea exploration mining licenses in the area are issued as soon as possible.

 The minister stated “it is a known fact that in spite of all the challenges facing Africa, it is richly endowed on land and sea. That these natural resources have remained largely untapped is a great source of concern and part of the reasons for Africa’s underdevelopment.”

Also, the Nigeria’s permanent representative at the ISA, Ambassador Peter Oyedele has noted that the advances made in technological development in recent times, that mining of the nodules deposit in deep seabed will soon became  a commercial reality and that African continent can not afford to be left out in this regards.

It is on record that the United Nations (UN) General assembly in 1970, adopted a resolution declaring the resources of the seabed and ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction to be “common heritage of mankind” for which no state or person could rightfully claim.

The time has now ripen for Nigerian Scientists, and indeed other scientist in African region to showcase their skills and ingenuity in exploring and exploiting the rich deep seabed mineral resources for the development of the region.

Going by the UN resolution of 1970, no nation can make claim to ownership of the seabed. It is our common wealth, and African should partake in the deal.

Corlins Walter