At the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urged the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritize the establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Delivering Nigeria’s position on Sunday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar announced the country’s readiness to host the task force’s headquarters in Lagos. Tinubu’s call came as the AU reviewed reports on African peace and security, including the Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa (2023-2024).
“The time has come for the AU Peace and Security Council to prioritize the creation of a Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria is ready to host its headquarters in Lagos,” the President stated.
On the same day, Nigeria signed an agreement with the AU to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for peace support operations, disaster relief, humanitarian missions, and personnel transport.
Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar signed the agreement, under which the Nigerian Navy will provide vessels on a cost-recovery basis. The signing was witnessed by key officials, including Attorney-General and Justice Minister Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Naval Chief Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and Nigerian Intelligence Agency Director-General Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, signed on behalf of the AU.
President Tinubu welcomed the AUPSC’s upgrading of Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre into a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre and the renewal of the Multinational Joint Task Force’s mandate to combat terrorism and violent extremism in the Lake Chad region.
Expressing concern over Libya’s instability, Tinubu stressed its role in exacerbating insecurity across the Sahel, urging the AU to support efforts to restore order.
“The Sahel cannot enjoy peace as long as Libya remains unstable,” he warned.
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He also highlighted security crises in countries undergoing political transitions—Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Gabon—and proposed exploring the benefits of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to support AU peacekeeping operations.
Additionally, he cautioned against the increasing involvement of extra-continental forces and private military companies in Africa’s security affairs.
Operationalizing the African Standby Force
Reaffirming Nigeria’s support for the African Standby Force, Tinubu urged AU members to adopt the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on its operationalization, calling for flexibility in negotiations.
