The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has urged the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritize the establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF) to strengthen 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, February 16, 2025, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to host the task force headquarters in Lagos.
The statement was delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, during deliberations on the AUPSC report on peace and security in Africa and the biennial report on the Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa (2023–2024).
“The time has come for the African Union Peace and Security Council to prioritize 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,” President Tinubu stated.
Nigeria and AU Sign MoU for Strategic Sea Lift Services
On the same day, Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Union to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for AU peace support operations, natural disaster response, humanitarian efforts, and personnel movement.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON mni, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, while Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, signed for the AU. Under this agreement, the Nigerian Navy will provide a vessel for regional and continental operations on a cost-recovery basis.
Dignitaries Present at the Signing
The event was attended by several key government officials and military leaders, including:
✅ Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN
✅ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar
✅ Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla
✅ Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed
This strategic move underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to regional security and Nigeria’s leadership in maritime safety across Africa.
Culled from an official statement by
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy)
February 16, 2025
#NigerianNavy #OnwardTogether #GulfOfGuinea #NigeriaAtAU
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