By Kolawole Ojebisi
As part of measures to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has requested the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritise the establishment of a combined maritime task force.
Tinubu made this proposition on Sunday at the 38th ordinary session of the assembly of the AU heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Represented by Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, Tinubu suggested Lagos, Nigeria’s economic nerve, as the security outfit’s headquarters.
“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,” a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to Tibubu on information and strategy, quoted the president as saying.
“I wish to announce that Nigeria would like to host the headquarters of the task force in Lagos.”
Tinubu’s recommendation of a maritime task force comes on the same day that Nigeria signed an agreement with the AU.
The statement said Nigeria agreed to provide strategic sea lift services for AU peace support operations, natural disaster support, humanitarian actions, and personnel movement.
Under the agreement, the Nigerian Navy will provide a vessel for the operations on a cost-recovery basis.
The minister of defence, Badaru Abubakar, signed the agreement on Nigeria’s behalf while Bankole Adeoye, AU commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security, signed for the AU.
The statement noted that the AUPSC had previously held a high-level meeting.
Tinubu expressed satisfaction at the decision to upgrade the Nigerian National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a regional counter-terrorism centre, which was one of the outcomes of the meeting.
The president also highlighted the insecurity affecting Sahelian countries grappling with democratic transition.
He blamed the worsening situation on the instability in Libya and urged the assembly to back initiatives to restore law and order in the country.
“It would not be out of place to explore the possibility of extending the inherent benefits of UN Security Council resolution 2719 to support AU peace support operations,” the president said.
In doing so, Tinubu added that the AU must try to prevent the increasing incursion of extra-continental forces, including private military companies, into African security matters.
