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.

He conveyed Nigeria’s position as the AU considered the report on the AUPSC, focusing on peace and security in Africa, as well as the biennial report on the implementation of the Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa (2023–2024).

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.

Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, signed on behalf of the AU.

Tinubu welcomed the AUPSC’s decision to adopt the outcomes of a high-level meeting, including the upgrade of Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre.

He also commended the Peace and Security Council’s decision to renew the mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which addresses the twin challenges of terrorism and violent extremism in the Lake Chad Region.

On Libya, the Nigerian leader expressed concern that instability in the North African country continues to exacerbate security challenges in the Sahel and urged the Assembly to support initiatives to restore law and order.

“The Sahel cannot enjoy peace as long as Libya does not,” he warned.