President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s bid to expand its maritime territory, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is fully on course.
Buhari, who stated this when he received a progress report from the High-Powered Presidential Committee on Nigeria’s Extended Continental Shelf Project, on Tuesday in Abuja, said this would be achieved without ‘‘war, litigation, or purchase.’’
“I am looking forward to the day that I can announce to Nigerians that additional maritime territory has been approved for Nigeria by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf,’’ the president said.
The president assured the Committee, chaired by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, of his full support on Nigeria’s submission to the United Nations for the additional maritime area, under the recognised international convention.
He commended the Committee on the progress made so far, and the dedication invested on the work within a short time, assuring them of all the support to conclude the project in good time.