Abuja: The National Boundary Commission (NBC) says it is delineating Nigeria’s maritime boundaries with its neighbours to maximise the country’s growing blue economy. The NBC Director-General, Mr Adamu Adaji, stated this on Sunday in Abuja, while assessing the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s administration after two years in office.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adaji mentioned that the commission had made progress in delineating Nigeria’s maritime boundaries with Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Benin Republic, and Ghana. For Ghana, there has been some stalemate in terms of efforts to define the boundary, but the discussions have been put back on track, and progress is being made. Plans are in place to continue the progress this year to ensure the boundaries are clearly defined.
Adaji also addressed the maritime boundary with Equatorial Guinea, mentioning that it is being managed properly. Discussions are set to continue this year to define the remaining length of the boundary, which is about three nautical miles. The efforts aim to ensure that Nigeria’s maritime territories are well-defined, secured, and protected.
In line with promoting the blue economy, Adaji highlighted that the resources in the affected maritime boundaries would be defined for proper management. He also discussed Nigeria’s extended continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles by the UN, stating that the government plans to harness its resources soon. There is also a possibility of Nigeria receiving an additional extension of the continental shelf.
The government intends to maximize the benefits from this area, which is rich in resources like hydrocarbons and metallic modules. Other resources may also be explored, bringing significant benefits to the country. To secure the maritime boundaries, a committee has been established under the Ministry of Defence, working with Nigeria’s neighbours to ensure adequate security for the maritime sector.
Adaji emphasized the need for combined efforts, stating that collaboration with neighbouring countries is crucial to jointly patrol the area and ensure maximum security for the maritime sector.
