President Bola Tinubu has called on the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritise the establishment of a combined maritime task force to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Tinubu said this at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday.
The President expressed Nigeria’s readiness to host the task force’s headquarters in Lagos, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.
Tinubu conveyed Nigeria’s position as the AU considered the report on the AUPSC, focusing on peace and security in Africa, and the biennial report on the implementation of the Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa (2023-2024)
The President’s statement was delivered at the meeting on his behalf by Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“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,” he said.
Nigeria also signed an agreement with the AU to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for AU peace support operations, natural disaster support, humanitarian actions, and personnel movement.
Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, Nigeria’s defence minister, signed the agreement, under which the Nigerian Navy will provide a vessel for the operations on a cost-recovery basis.
Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Tuggar, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Naval Chief, and Amb. Muhammed Muhammed, the Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, witnessed the signing of the agreement.
Amb. Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, signed for the AU.
President Tinubu expressed satisfaction that the AUPSC had already adopted the outcomes of a high–level meeting, including the decision to upgrade the Nigerian National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a Regional Counter–Terrorism Centre.
He also appreciated the Peace and Security Council’s decision to renew the mandate of the Multinational Joint Taskforce, addressing the twin challenges of terrorism and violent extremism in the Lake Chad Region.
On Libya, the Nigerian leader expressed concern that the instability in the North African country had worsened security challenges in the Sahel and called on the Assembly to back initiatives to restore law and order.
“The Sahel cannot enjoy peace as long as Libya does not,” he warned.
President Tinubu highlighted the severe insecurity affecting countries grappling with democratic transition, including Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Gabon.
“It would not be out of place to explore the possibility of extending the inherent benefits of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to support AU Peace Support Operations,” he said.
In doing so, he added that the AU must try to prevent the increasing incursion of extra-continental forces, including private military companies, into African security matters.
President Tinubu welcomed the progress in operationalising the African Standby Force, reiterating Nigeria’s support.
He appealed to all AU member countries and delegations to show the necessary flexibility and allow the draft MoU on the operationalisation of the standby force to be adopted.
