ECOWAS Naval Chiefs Unveil Maritime Taskforce to Tackle Escalating Threats in Gulf of Guinea

The Chiefs of Naval Staff of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states have moved to strengthen and operationalise a Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF) to combat rising security threats in the Gulf of Guinea.

A statement issued by the Nigerian Navy’s Acting Director of Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, highlighted key discussions during the 5th Meeting of the ECOWAS Sub-Committee of Chiefs of Naval Staff held in Accra from February 16-20, 2026.

The meeting addressed escalating maritime insecurity, including terrorism, drug trafficking, piracy, and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Discussions were led by Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas. The meeting stressed the urgent need for deeper regional cooperation, including stronger coordination with landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to combat terrorism and transnational organised crime.

Environmental-security concerns in the Lake Chad Basin were also highlighted, with the task force expected to leverage regional intelligence to counter piracy and maritime crime.

A key outcome was renewed momentum to operationalise the CMTF through a coalition of willing nations. Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone formally expressed interest in joining Nigeria.

The flag-off of the task force is scheduled to take place in Lagos between May 31 and June 1. Nigeria, as host nation, will contribute three ships, one helicopter, eight vehicles, and a temporary furnished office to support the CMTF.

The meeting was attended by ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, directors of regional maritime security centres, representatives of Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres (MMCC), as well as officials from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union-African Chamber of Commerce.