President Bola Tinubu has called on the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritize the establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s readiness to host the headquarters of the proposed task force in Lagos.
Delivering Nigeria’s position on behalf of the President, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, emphasized the urgent need for collective maritime security efforts.
“The time has come for the African Union Peace and Security Council to prioritise the creation of a Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea.
I wish to announce that Nigeria would like to host the headquarters of the task force in Lagos.”
Nigeria Signs Strategic Agreement with AU
Tinubu’s call for a maritime task force coincided with Nigeria’s signing of a landmark agreement with the AU to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for peace support operations, natural disaster response, humanitarian actions, and personnel movement.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, signed the agreement, under which the Nigerian Navy will provide a vessel for these operations on a cost-recovery basis.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Attorney-General and Justice Minister Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed.
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, signed on behalf of the African Union.
Regional Security and Counter-Terrorism Initiatives
President Tinubu commended the AUPSC for adopting recommendations from a recent high-level security meeting, including the decision to upgrade Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre into a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre.
He also welcomed the renewal of the mandate for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which combats terrorism and violent extremism in the Lake Chad Region.
Expressing concerns over Libya’s continued instability and its spillover effects on the Sahel, Tinubu urged the AU to support initiatives aimed at restoring law and order in the North African country.
“The Sahel cannot enjoy peace as long as Libya does not,” he warned.
He further highlighted the insecurity plaguing countries in democratic transition, including Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Gabon, calling for collective AU intervention.
Push for African-Led Peace Operations and Economic Stability
Tinubu advocated for leveraging UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to support AU-led peace operations and warned against the increasing involvement of extra-continental military forces, including private military contractors, in Africa’s security matters.
The President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the African Standby Force, urging AU members to finalize the draft Memorandum of Understanding for its full operationalization.
On economic matters, Tinubu backed the establishment of an African-led Credit Rating Agency (ACRA) to provide fairer and more transparent assessments of African economies, countering biases often observed in global rating agencies.
“An independent African-led rating agency will help provide fairer assessments of African economies and reduce the bias often observed in existing global rating agencies,” Tinubu stated.
He commended the African Union, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Finance for advancing the Africa Financing Stability Mechanism (AFSM), which aims to address rising borrowing costs, debt burdens, and limited access to affordable long-term financing.
“The establishment of the AFSM underscores the collective commitment of member states in addressing financial vulnerabilities and fostering economic resilience across the continent,” he said.
Tinubu concluded by emphasizing the importance of adopting the AFSM to strengthen financial stability and enhance Africa’s resilience against external economic shocks.
