President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to officially launch the African Union (AU) Combined Maritime Task Force as part of broader efforts to strengthen maritime security across Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.
The Nigerian Navy announced that the initiative is designed to improve regional collaboration in tackling piracy, illegal fishing, and other forms of transnational crime across West and Central African waters.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said the celebration will include an international fleet review at the Eko Atlantic Waterfront in Lagos, to be presided over by President Tinubu.
He explained that the President will also carry out ceremonial duties, including the trooping and presentation of colours to the Nigerian Navy, as well as commissioning three newly acquired naval vessels.
The Combined Maritime Task Force, which will also be officially flagged off by the President, was established under the African Union Peace and Security Council and approved in April 2025 as a rapid-response maritime security unit for the Gulf of Guinea.
It is headquartered in Lagos and brings together several regional countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia, to address organised maritime crimes across the 6,000-kilometre coastline.
Vice Admiral Abbas noted that the Navy’s 70th anniversary will attract participation from over 39 navies and multiple international defence and diplomatic institutions, highlighting Nigeria’s growing role in regional maritime security.
He added that foreign naval ships from countries such as Brazil, Cameroon, Benin Republic, and Ghana will also take part in the celebrations, alongside sporting and ceremonial events in Lagos.
The Nigerian Navy, which began with just a few hundred personnel, has grown into one of Africa’s most significant naval forces, with expanded shipbuilding capacity and increased operational reach.
