President Bola Tinubu has called on the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to establish a combined maritime task force to bolster security in the Gulf of Guinea.
He also announced Nigeria’s readiness to host the task force’s headquarters in Lagos.
Tinubu’s proposal was delivered on Sunday at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The meeting reviewed security reports across the continent, including the implementation of the Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa (2023-2024).
In addition to its push for a maritime task force, Nigeria signed an agreement with the AU to offer Strategic Sea Lift Services.
This arrangement will support AU peacekeeping operations, humanitarian missions, and disaster response efforts. Under the agreement, the Nigerian Navy will provide vessels for these operations on a cost-recovery basis.
The signing was attended by key Nigerian officials, including Minister of Defence Badaru Abubakar, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed. AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole Adeoye, signed on behalf of the AU.
Tinubu welcomed the AUPSC’s recent decisions, particularly the upgrade of Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre.
He also supported renewing the mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which combats terrorism in the Lake Chad region.
Regarding Libya, Tinubu emphasized that continued instability in the North African country is worsening security threats in the Sahel.
He urged AU member states to support efforts to restore stability, stating, “The Sahel cannot enjoy peace as long as Libya does not.”
The President also expressed concern over the rising insecurity in countries undergoing democratic transitions, including Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Gabon.
He urged the AU to explore mechanisms like the UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to strengthen peace support operations on the continent.
Additionally, he warned against the increasing involvement of external military forces and private security companies in African security affairs, emphasizing the need for homegrown solutions.
On economic matters, Tinubu strongly advocated for an independent African-led credit rating agency.
He argued that such an institution would provide fairer assessments of African economies, free from the biases observed in global rating agencies.
He commended the African Union, the African Development Bank, and the Specialised Technical Committee on Finance for their leadership in establishing a framework for financing development.
He stressed the importance of the Africa Financing Stability Mechanism (AFSM) in addressing Africa’s financial challenges, including rising debt burdens and limited access to long-term funding.
“The AFSM is a crucial step towards financial stability, helping member states achieve their national development goals while creating economic opportunities for their citizens,” Tinubu said.