President Tinubu has called for a combined maritime task force in the Gulf of Guinea to boost security and expressed Nigeria’s willingness to host its headquarters. He discussed Nigeria’s provision of Strategic Sea Lift Services for AU peace operations and highlighted the need for regional stability, particularly concerning terrorism and the situation in Libya. Tinubu renewed Nigeria’s commitment to operationalizing the African Standby Force.
President Bola Tinubu urged the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to establish a combined maritime task force, enhancing security in the Gulf of Guinea. During the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he expressed Nigeria’s readiness to host the task force headquarters in Lagos if established.
Tinubu’s message was delivered by Foreign Minister Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced maritime security in the region. He highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to effective peacekeeping operations in Africa, which includes a recent agreement to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for AU peace support missions.
The agreement, signed by Nigeria’s defence minister Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, outlines the Nigerian Navy’s role in providing vessel support on a cost-recovery basis for various operations, such as humanitarian actions and personnel movement. This collaboration showcases Nigeria’s commitment to regional security and strategic maritime operations.
The President expressed satisfaction with the AUPSC’s progress, particularly the upgrade of the Nigerian National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre and the renewal of the Multinational Joint Taskforce’s mandate focused on combating terrorism. He also raised concerns about Libya’s instability and its broader implications for security across the Sahel region.
Tinubu addressed insecurity issues affecting nations in democratic transition—Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Gabon—and suggested leveraging UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to bolster AU peace operations. He warned against the involvement of extra-continental forces, including private military companies, in Africa’s security affairs.
He welcomed the progress in operationalizing the African Standby Force and called for flexibility in adopting the draft MoU for its operationalization among AU member states. This appeal aligns with Nigeria’s continued support for the African Union’s efforts in enhancing regional stability and security.
In summary, President Tinubu’s advocacy for a Combined Maritime Task Force symbolizes Nigeria’s proactive approach to enhancing security in the Gulf of Guinea. His proposals for collaboration with the African Union and addressing instability in neighboring regions underscore Nigeria’s leadership role in African security initiatives and its commitment to preventing external interference. The agreement for Strategic Sea Lift Services highlights the practical steps being taken toward greater engagement in peace support operations across the continent.
Original Source: nannews.ng
