Business
FG Extends Maritime Boundary
The National Boundary Commission has disclosed its plans to extend Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by 150 nautical miles.
Alhaji Sadiq Diggi, Director General of the Commission who disclosed this in an interview with news recently in Abuja, said the extention would, however, be subject to UN’s approval.
He said the intended additional 150 nautical miles, through the commission’s proposal extending “the Continental Shelf Project” would extend Nigeria’s maritime boundary from its entitled 200 to 350 nautical miles.
“Initially Nigeria had 200 nautical miles as its Exclusive Economic Zone, so what we are trying to do is to extend it by 150 kilometers so that we can have 350 nautical miles all to ourselves.
“The benefit of this is that all ships coming through that area must come under our authority, and we are going to be in control of all mineral exploitations and fisheries resources.
“Also we are going to be very safe in the event that oil is discovered somewhere above 200 nautical miles away, it will still be in our territory,’’ he said.
The Director General also said that once finance and logistics were in place, the commission hoped to continue with the demarcation exercise along Nigeria’s internal boundaries.
He said that Nigeria had been able to successfully negotiate, resolve and demarcate international boundary issues with its neighbours.
Reports say that the international boundaries include Nigeria/Niger, Nigeria/Benin, Nigeria/Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria/Sao Tome and Principe, and Nigeria/Cameroon.