Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, seized the opportunity at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, AU, Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to urge the African Union Peace and Security Council, AUPSC, to prioritise the establishment of a combined maritime task force.

He said the move would enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Tinubu stated that Nigeria is open to hosting the task force’s headquarters in Lagos.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, delivered the statement on behalf of President Tinubu on Sunday.

According to the Nigerian government: “The time is right 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’s recommendation for a maritime task force coincided with the signing of an agreement with the AU to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for AU peace support operations, natural disaster response, humanitarian missions, and personnel movement.

The Nigerian Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, signed the agreement.

Under the agreement, the Nigerian Navy will provide a vessel for the operations on a cost-recovery basis.

Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Naval Chief, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed, witnessed the signing.


https://dailypost.ng/2025/02/16/gulf-of-guinea-nigerias-president-tinubu-advocates-joint-maritime-task-force-to-boost-regional-security/