President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Federal Ministry of Finance to provide the funds expansion of Nigeria’s maritime boundaries and to conduct the geographical surveys which are essential for the submission.
President Buhari gave the order today after receiving briefing from the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Dr. M.B. Ahmad on the status of preparations for a submission by Nigeria to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).
Buhari, who also approved the constitution of a Presidential Committee to oversee the conclusion of work on the submission, which could lead to the expansion of Nigeria’s maritime boundaries from 200 nautical miles to 350 nautical miles, if approved by the  CLCS, gave assurance that he was in full support of the move.
According to Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the continental shelf of a coastal state comprises the sea-bed and the sub-soil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breath of the territorial sea is measured, where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance.
A sovereign coastal state like Nigeria can extend its maritime territory beyond 200 nautical miles, up to a maximum of 350 nautical miles, if it can prove scientifically that the natural prolongation of its land territory under the sea extends beyond 200 nautical miles.
The objective of the submission being prepared by the National Boundary Commission is to claim for the country a potentially rich maritime territory of up to 104,000 square miles without any war or litigation.
There is a strong likelihood of the presence of large deposits of hydrocarbons, gas and other mineral deposits in the extended maritime territory. [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked African nations to close ranks and work together wage a common war against terrorism that has brought untold hardship to the many parts of the continent.
Speaking at an audience with a Special Envoy of President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, President Buhari said that since terrorism no longer respects national borders, the international community must urgently evolve and implement more effective collaborative measures to enhance  global security.
“Good neighbourliness is essential for the security and economic development of African countries.
“Terrorism no longer respects borders. Therefore, we must keep on improving joint measures and actions against terrorism and other trans-border crimes.
“It was with this necessity in mind that I visited all of Nigeria’s neighbouring countries immediately after my assumption of office and we will continue to do our best to strengthen regional and international cooperation against terrorism.”
The Special Envoy, Mr. Agapito Mba Mokuy, told President Buhari that the security of Nigeria is very important to the entire West African region.
Mokuy, who is also the Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, said that President Mbasogo was impressed by the progress being made towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency under President Buhari’s leadership.
He delivered an invitation from President Mbasogo for President Buhari to visit Equatorial Guinea at his earliest convenience. [myad]

National Security Adviser (NSA) under the government of Goodluck Jonathan, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki is still contending with security personnel as they occupied his Abuja residence today.

Dasuki, who had just gotten a favourable judgment on the release of his international passport to enable him travel abroad to seek for medical attention, appears to have been stopped from undertaking the foreign trip by the State Security Service (SSS).

It would be recalled that a Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday, asked the security agency to release his passport for him to travel out of the country for medical treatment.

Justice Ademola Adeniyi, who is presiding over the case of gun running and illegal arms possession, brought against Dasuki by the Federal Government, said Dasuki has a right to seek medical treatment in any country of his choice.

Adeniyi subsequently ordered the Registrar of the court to release Dasuki’s travel documents to him.

Operatives of the DSS had sincequestioned a former Governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna, who stood as surety for Dasuki. [myad]