Lagos — The Nigerian delegation to the 16th ordinary meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) of the Nigeria-Sao-Tome & Principe (NSTP) Joint Development Authority (JDA) has arrived Sao-Tome for the three-day meeting.

The JMC is the body that supervises the JDA. Abuja hosted the 15th JMC meeting between March 9 and March 10.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Bilateral Military Commission is expected to be inaugurated during the meeting, which began on Monday.

The delegation was received on arrival at the Sao-Tome International Airport by Nigeria's envoy to that country, Dr. Godwin Dogonyaro and senior administration officials of the Sao-Tome & Principe Government.

Included in the delegation, which is led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bagudu Hirse, are the Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum), Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) and the Minister of State for Defence, Florence Njeze.

Also in the delegation, is the Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources, Maina Waziri and the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Sadiq Diggi.

Nigeria and Sao-Tome & Principe signed a treaty on February 21, 2001 establishing the area of overlapping maritime boundary claims between the two countries as a Joint Development Zone (JDZ).

The treaty mandates the JDA to exploit the petroleum and other natural resources in the zone and share the proceeds on a 60 per cent (Nigeria): 40 per cent (STP) basis.