The United Nations has approved Nigeria's request to extend her continental shelf from 200 to 350 nautical miles. A sub- commission is to be constituted by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) for detailed and technical consideration of the proposal.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) tendered his submission in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 1 (b) of Annex II to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The initial submission was made on May 7, 2009 by Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Joy Ogwu, to the United Nations Division of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) in order to meet the deadline for making such submissions to the United Nations. The submission contained data on the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in accordance with UNCLOS, and scientific and technical guidelines of the CLCS. Prior to submission, Nigeria 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, which rests with states.