Nigeria, Ghana meet to maximise sea border for economic benefits

Nigeria and Ghana have held a high-level meeting on exploiting their water boundary for economic benefits. The parley of experts was convened at the instance of the Federal Government, in Abuja, yesterday.

The discussion, according to the Director-General, National Boundary Commission (NBC), Adamu Adaji, primarily focused on ways to amicably resolve the definition of the border as not to endanger shared aquatic resources and other maritime issues.

Declaring the meeting open, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, who was represented by Ambassador Yahaya Faruk, urged officials of both nations to come up with enduring solutions geared at strengthening the existing cordial relationship between the two countries.

He noted that nature had bequeathed both nations with shared cultures and values, as well as a common boundary in the sea despite being geographically separated by other two countries – Togo and Benin Republic.

The minister lauded the concrete steps taken by both countries geared at addressing concerns that might affect diplomatic ties.

He, therefore, enjoined the gathering to come up with practical strategies that would ensure that the maritime boundary definition is economically and mutually beneficial to the two countries.

The United Nations and the International law of the Sea allow a nation to move its boundary up to 200 nautical miles into the sea. After fruitless efforts of the past, the summit constituted a Joint Technical Sub Committee to consider details of the delimitation of the sea border.

Adaji said the next meeting is billed for the first quarter of 2022 in Ghana.