A multi-national task force will soon be formed to patrol the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

Buhari revealed the move on Thursday during talks with French Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

He said the patrols would boost ongoing efforts to improve security in the region, and curb crude oil theft and piracy.

A regional force of troops from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin is battling Islamist group Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria.

Buhari reiterated his pledge to protect Nigeria from Boko Haram, which has killed over 10,000 people since 2009.

"We are determined to secure all of our territory effectively. We are doing our best and our troops are now operating in the Sambisa Forest (in northeast Nigeria)," he said.