Nigeria has secured commitments from five West African countries to operationalise the regional Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF), in a move aimed at strengthening security in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
The breakthrough was reached at the fifth meeting of the Sub-Committee of Chiefs of the Naval Staff under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), held in Accra, Ghana, from February 16 to 20.
Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone indicated interest in joining Nigeria to operationalise the task force, which is scheduled for inauguration in Lagos from May 31 to June 1.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, led Nigeria’s delegation to the meeting, where regional naval leaders reviewed ongoing maritime security operations and agreed on measures to fast-track the deployment of the CMTF.
The Nigerian Navy has already committed three ships, one helicopter, eight vehicles and office facilities in Lagos to support the take-off of the task force.
Speaking at the meeting, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, urged member states to deepen cooperation in tackling terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. He also called for closer coordination with landlocked countries confronting transnational organised crime.
Participants assessed progress under the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy, including joint patrols across designated maritime zones, according to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.
The statement added that Nigeria’s Falcon Eye surveillance system was highlighted as a major asset in ongoing efforts to curb maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea.
