Nigeria Calls For Combined Maritime Task Force For The Gulf Of Guinea At AU Summit, Navy To Provide Sea Lift Services

Nigeria Calls For Combined Maritime Task Force For The Gulf Of Guinea At AU Summit, Navy To Provide Sea Lift Services

The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has called on the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritise the establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF) to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea.

At the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, President Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s readiness to host the task force’s headquarters in Lagos.

President 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 statement was delivered on behalf of President Tinubu by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.

“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.

SIGNING OF AN MoU BETWEEN NIGERIA AND THE AFRICAN UNION FOR THE PROVISION OF STRATEGIC SEA LIFT BY THE NIGERIAN NAVY

Nigeria’s recommendation of a combined maritime task force comes on the same day that it 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.

Nigeria’s defence minister, His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON mni, signed the agreement for Nigeria while Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, signed for the AU.

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

Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar were present at the signing of the MoU.

Also present were the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla and Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed.