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Territorial Waters Act

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Arrangement of Sections

1. Extension of limits of territorial waters.

2. Jurisdiction in respect of offences committed in territorial waters.

3. Restriction on trial of persons other than Nigerian citizens for offences committed in territorial waters.

4. Short title.

TERRITORIAL WATERS ACT

An Act to determine the limits of the territorial waters of Nigeria and for other matters connected therewith.

[8th April, 1967] [Commencement.]

1. Extension of limits of territorial waters

(1) The territorial waters of Nigeria shall for all purposes include every part of the
open sea within twelve nautical miles of the coast of Nigeria (measured from low water mark) or of the seaward limits of inland waters.

[1998 No. I.]

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing subsection, that subsection shall in particular apply for the purposes of any power of the Federal Government to make, with respect to any matter, laws applying to or to any part of the territorial waters of Nigeria.
(3) Accordingly-

(a) in the definition of territorial waters contained in section 18 (1) of the interpretation Act, for the words "thirty nautical miles" there shall be substituted the words "twelve nautical miles"; and

(b) references to territorial waters or to the territorial waters of Nigeria in all other existing Federal enactments (and in particular the Sea Fisheries Act) shall be construed accordingly.

(4) In subsection (3) of this section, "existing Federal enactments" means-

(a) any Act of the National Assembly passed or made before the commencement of this Act or 26 August 1971 (which is the date of commencement of the amendment to this Act), including any instrument made before 1 October 1960 in so far as it has effect as an Act; or

(b) any order, rules, regulations, rules of court or bye-laws made before the commencement of this Act or 26 August 1971 aforesaid in exercise of powers conferred by any such Act or instrument.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering the extent of or the area covered by any lease, licence, right or permit granted under any enactment or instrument before the commencement of this Act or 26 August 1971 (which is the date of commencement of the amendment to this Act).

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