Nigeria now holds authority over extra square miles of ocean area, according to the United Nations (UN).

Nigeria submitted a proposal for an extended continental shelf through the High Power Presidential Committee (HPPC) in 2009.

Committee member and marine scientist Larry Awosika informed President Bola Tinubu that the permission was the result of years of painstaking study on geography, geology, and geophysics.

He continued by saying that the legal claims Nigeria has over a sizable portion of the seabed and subsoil outside of its traditional territorial seas have been strengthened by diplomacy.

Awosika spoke on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting the approval report alongside other members of the HPPC, according to a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson.

The professor said the economic potentials of the newly acquired territory are vast, including increased investments in hydrocarbons, gas, solid minerals, and a wide variety of sedentary species.

Aliyu Omar, committee secretary, said the new approved area “is about 16,300 square kilometres, which is about five times the size of Lagos State”.

Omar added that the official notification of the decision was conveyed to Nigeria by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in August 2023, shortly after Tinubu assumed office.

”The first option is to take the area gained and finalize the registration with the UN Secretary-General and close everything, meaning that we are satisfied with what we got. This will take at least one year,” the surveyor said.

”The second option is to take what we have right now, acquire more data, do a support write-up, and make a revised submission as recommended by CLCS for further consideration. This will take another four years.

”Either way, Nigeria will keep what has been approved.’’

Tinubu lauded the achievements, saying it reflects Nigeria’s economic and strategic interests.

‘‘This is big congratulations for Nigeria,’’ he said.

”I commend the team, and we must take advantage of this and invite you again to have a repeat of this knowledge exploration on geography, hydrography, and the marine life.

”Nigeria is grateful for the efforts that you put into gaining additional territory for the country without going to war. Some nations went to war, lost people and economic opportunities.”

Tinubu said his administration will continue to pursue the best options for the country.

Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president; Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy; and Hassan Tukur, HPPC chairman; also attended the meeting.

Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was charged on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for authorising the printing of N684.5 million at the rate of N18.96 billion.

The former governor of the Central African Republic (CBN) entered a not guilty plea to all counts upon being arraigned before Maryann Anenih, a federal capital territory (FCT) high court judge.

In the four-count charge filed against him, the EFCC alleged that Emefiele disobeyed the direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The anti-graft agency also accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

More to come..

Popular Nigerian singer, Portable, was on Tuesday arrested by the Lagos state police command for allegedly failing to pay the debt he incurred after purchasing his G-Wagon from a car dealer.

The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ hitmaker was said to have bought the vehicle worth N27 million but paid only N13 million.

Portable allegedly refused to pay the remaining N14 million and whenever the car dealer requested his money, he always claimed the vehicle was having issues.

Before he was taken to the station, the singer had attempted to evade arrest.

In a now-viral video, Portable and some police officers were seen in front of a building. Shortly after Portable was shown his arrest warrant, the singer tried to evade arrest by jumping over the gate.

Benjamin Hundeyin, the state police spokesperson, confirmed Portable’s arrest, stating that operatives went after him, after which he was arrested and taken into custody.

This is not the first time the police have arrested Portable. In March last year, the Ogun police arrested the singer over alleged assault.

The arrest came after the expiration of the 72-hour ultimatum given to him to turn himself in.

The singer previously resisted attempts by the police to arrest him and also referred to himself as “a federal government liability”.

Portable gained fame in December 2021 with the release of ‘Zazoo Zeh’, his hit single featuring Olamide and Poco Lee.

He has also produced hit tracks including ‘All Eyes On Me’, ‘Clear Azaman’, ‘Neighbour’, and ‘Ogo Forever’.

The singer is known for making headlines over controversial reasons.

He recently collaborated with Skepta, the British rapper, on ‘Tony Montana’.

Portable also recently said fashion was his “profession” before venturing into music. He revealed that he is still a fashion designer and “combines” the profession with his music career.

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