The United Nations has approved Nigeria's request for an extension of its continental shelf from 200 nautical miles (370 km) to 350 nautical miles (647 km), according to the report of the Lagos-based Nigerian Compass newspaper on Wednesday.

The application for the extension was made by Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, the report said.

It contained data information on the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission on the limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), it added.

The approval marked the highpoint of the concerted efforts by Nigeria to extend the continental shelf from 200 nautical miles to 350 nautical miles.

The country held extensive consultations with neighboring states in the Gulf of Guinea, in line with the rules of procedure of the CLCS that has the competence to effect maritime boundary delimitation.

Source: Xinhua