Nigeria has gotten the approval of the United Nations(UN) to have an extended Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) beyond the current status.

This new feat coincides with the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which will give a boost to the Nigerian maritime sector.

The Chairman, United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, CLCS, Adnan Rashid Nasser Al-Azri, disclosed the development in a statement regarding Nigeria’s submission. This approval allows Nigeria to redraw the territorial map of its sovereignty in the Gulf of Guinea, thereby granting the right to exploit the abundant carbon and marine resources believed to be present in the area.

Prof. Lawrence Folajimi Awosika, a Nigerian, who became a Member of the UN-Commission on limits of Continental shelf (UN-CLCS) in 1987 and has chaired the Commission on two consecutive terms is associated hugely with this remarkable success.
He is a former Director and Head, Marine Geology, Geophysics Department of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Lagos,Nigeria.

His professional and scholarly works at the global scene have positioned Nigeria as a country with vast influence in the Gulf of Guinea. By this extension, Nigeria will now have more maritime space with the additional 20 nautical miles. The Gulf of Guinea serves as a strategic trading routes and where there is high level commercial maritime activities like fishing.

A global renowned maritime industry and academic Expert; an Expert on Mission, Regular Process, UN – Division of Oceans and Law of the Seas ( DOALOS), UN Head Quaters N.Y; Founder/President African Marine Environment Sustsinability Initiative (AFMESI)- Dr.Felicia Chinwe Mogo while commenting Prof. Awosika for his doggedness and patriotism to see this achievement through for Nigeria, said “The African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative (AFMESI) deeply congratulates Nigeria for the approval by the United Nations(UN) to extend her Exclusive Economic zone(EEZ). This is a big win to the Government and people of Nigeria especially with Nigeria launching into Blue Economy/creation of Ministry for Marine and Blue Economy.

“This development will translate into larger trade area and opportunities, more access to resources at sea both biotic and abiotic, more diplomatic recognition amongst comity of Nations especially Maritime and so on. These will catalyse the nations hope of economic growth and regrowth, job creation and ability to address major socio-economic deficits”

Mogo, who also is the Anchor Consultant for The Expanded Partnership Committee on the implementation of Blue Economy in Nigeria further stated that “AFMESI deeply congratulates Nigeria. We are sure that this well deserved approval and associated opportunities will spur full implementation of the country’s Blue Economy agenda as is being mapped out by the newly created Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the purview of His Excellency Adegboyega Oyelola, The Honourable Minister.

According to her “His success in the highly contested election was based on his evident knowledge and experience of the global maritime domain, its natural resources and sustainable extraction approaches.

“It is imperative to state UN-CLCS is charged with determining the portions of the seabed that can be exclusively mined for natural resources such as oil, precious metals and minerals. These benefits promises greater prospects for Nigeria if carried out sustainably said Mogo.