By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called on the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritize the establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea.
He made the call at the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa.
He also offered Lagos as the potential host city for the task force’s headquarters.
In his address, delivered by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, President Tinubu reiterated the urgent need for such a task force to safeguard the region.
This comes as Nigeria signed an agreement with the AU to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for peace support operations, humanitarian efforts, and personnel movement.
Under this agreement, Nigeria’s Navy will offer a vessel for the operations on a cost-recovery basis.
Key figures such as Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Badaru Abubakar, and Naval Chief, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, were present at the signing ceremony, alongside AU officials, including Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
President Tinubu also praised the AUPSC’s decision to upgrade the Nigerian National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre and to renew the mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force addressing terrorism in the Lake Chad region.
Additionally, President Tinubu expressed concern over the escalating instability in Libya, linking it to the worsening security situation in the Sahel, and urged the Assembly to support efforts aimed at restoring order in Libya.
He also highlighted security challenges in countries undergoing democratic transitions, including Sudan, Mali, and Niger.
The Nigerian leader showed strong support for the establishment of an African-led credit rating agency (ACRA), which would provide fairer and more transparent assessments of African economies.
He further backed the Africa Financing Stability Mechanism (AFSM) to support member states in addressing financial vulnerabilities and fostering economic resilience.
This initiative, designed to provide financial stability and support long-term development goals, has gained significant traction in recent AU discussions.
President Tinubu concluded by commending the progress made on the African Standby Force and urged the AU to adopt the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for its operationalization.