President Bola Tinubu has urged the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritize the establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea. Speaking at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tinubu also voiced support for the creation of an African-led credit rating agency (ACRA) to provide fair and transparent credit assessments for African economies.
Represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s willingness to host the headquarters of the proposed maritime task force in Lagos. A statement by Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga quoted Tinubu as saying, “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.”
On the same day, Nigeria signed an agreement with the AU to provide strategic sea lift services for peace support operations, humanitarian efforts, and personnel movement. Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Badaru Abubakar, signed the agreement, under which the Nigerian Navy will deploy a vessel for operations on a cost-recovery basis.
The signing was witnessed by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Naval Chief, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla; and Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, signed on behalf of the AU.
President Tinubu welcomed the AUPSC’s decision to upgrade Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre and to renew the mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which addresses terrorism and violent extremism in the Lake Chad region.
Expressing concern over Libya’s instability, he highlighted its impact on security in the Sahel and called on AU leaders to support initiatives aimed at restoring law and order. “The Sahel cannot enjoy peace as long as Libya does not,” Tinubu warned.
He also pointed to insecurity in countries undergoing democratic transitions, including Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Gabon. He suggested leveraging UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to support AU peace efforts while cautioning against the increasing presence of foreign military contractors in African security matters. Commending progress in operationalizing the African Standby Force, he urged AU member states to show flexibility in adopting the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for its implementation.
Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s strong support for the establishment of an African-led credit rating agency, arguing that it would provide fairer assessments of African economies and counter biases in existing global rating agencies. “An independent African-led rating agency will help provide fairer assessments of African economies and reduce the bias often observed in existing global rating agencies,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of the Africa Financing Stability Mechanism (AFSM) in tackling financial challenges such as high borrowing costs, debt overhang, and limited access to long-term financing. “The establishment of the AFSM underscores the collective commitment of member states in addressing financial vulnerabilities and fostering economic resilience across the continent,” Tinubu said. He noted that key decisions on the AFSM were reached at the 5th Extraordinary Session of the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, held in Abuja in November 2025.
“The adoption of the AFSM by member states is expected to enhance financial stability, strengthen resilience against external shocks, and provide a more coordinated approach to managing financial risks across the continent,” he added.
Tinubu’s remarks reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to regional security, economic stability, and financial independence, underscoring the need for African-led solutions to the continent’s pressing challenges.
