President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to establish a combined maritime task force to safeguard the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking at the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa on Sunday, he reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to leading this initiative.
He proposed Lagos as the headquarters of the task force.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga said President Tinubu’s message was delivered 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.
Nigeria signed an agreement to provide strategic sea lift services for AU peace support operations, natural disaster support, humanitarian actions, and personnel movement.
Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, signed for Nigeria.
Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, signed for the AU.
Under the pact, the Nigerian Navy will provide a vessel for the operations on a cost-recovery basis.
Nigeria opposed a proposal to restructure the AU’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS).
It warned that such a move could lead to unnecessary expenditures and disrupt continental peace and security efforts.
Speaking at the AU session, President Tinubu, represented by Tuggar, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to meaningful AU reforms but rejected the bid to create a new department separate from PAPS.
He said: “We do not support the proposal to reconfigure the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS).
“The reconfiguration in the way currently suggested will only lead us to incur more expenditure needlessly.
