Nigeria to provide assets, infrastructure for Gulf of Guinea maritime security force
Nigeria has pledged full infrastructural and operational backing for the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea, offering to host the force’s headquarters and provide critical assets to boost regional maritime security.
Representing President Bola Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, Vice President Kashim Shettima said Nigeria would supply office facilities, naval vessels, helicopters and temporary personnel to ensure the task force operates effectively.
He noted that the initiative is aimed at strengthening collective efforts against piracy, transnational organised crimes and other security threats in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Vice President also called for a more coordinated African response to broader challenges confronting the continent, including insecurity, debt distress and the exploitation of mineral resources.
He welcomed progress on the African Standby Force and urged faster implementation of cooperation frameworks between the AU Commission and Regional Economic Communities, while backing efforts to advance the African Court of Justice and deepen institutional reforms across the continent.
The Nigerian naval fleet has been ranked the strongest in Africa, according to a 2026 Global Firepower (GFP) report.
Nigeria shares maritime boundaries with the Republic of Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, and Sao Tome and Principe, all located in the Gulf of Guinea, along an estimated 853 km coastline.
