By Evelyn Usman

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East and the resulting shift in global shipping routes, the Nigerian and Spanish navies have intensified collaboration to strengthen security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Félix Costales, stated this on Tuesday, April 7,2026,during the visit of Spanish offshore patrol vessel BAM Furor to the Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos, where he highlighted the strategic importance of the region to global maritime trade.

According to the ambassador, disruptions in the Middle East have led to the rerouting of Merchant Vessels, thereby placing the Gulf of Guinea at the centre of global shipping activities.

He said : “The Gulf of Guinea is gaining increasing importance in maritime traffic globally, especially now, with the situation in the Middle East. Many merchant ships are rerouting, and the Gulf of Guinea is becoming a key player in this new framework of shipping routes”.

Stressing that the development accentuated the need for sustained and enhanced maritime security in the region, Costales added: “This new reality underscores the need to properly man and secure the Gulf of Guinea. As traffic increases, so does the responsibility to ensure safe navigation.”

He further explained that Spain’s engagement in the region is anchored on its broader Africa policy framework, noting that “We have what we call the Africa Plan. It is a general foreign policy strategy for Africa as a whole, covering 2024 to 2028. West Africa is a key part of it because our biggest priority within the African continent is this region,” he said.

He added: “Within the general framework of what we do in West Africa, Nigeria is at the forefront. It goes without saying, being the biggest country in the region.”

Corroborating the ambassador’s position, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, FOC WNC, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, said the Nigerian Navy has continued to strengthen collaboration with foreign partners to enhance operational effectiveness.

He explained that the visit of BAM Furor was part of ongoing efforts to deepen naval cooperation and improve maritime security architecture in the Gulf of Guinea.

He said :“One of the pillars of the mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, is synergy with other services, sister agencies, strategic stakeholders and partner countries. Within the past three months, the Nigerian Navy has received the Pakistani Navy staff course. We have also received Indonesian Navy ships, and now we are receiving the Spanish offshore patrol vessel, BAM Furor,” he said.

“It could be recalled that last year we received the Spanish offshore patrol vessel, BAM Rayo, which is a sister vessel to this ship. In 2024, BAM Furor also participated in Obangame Express,” he added.

He further explained that the Spanish Navy forms part of the European Union’s Coordinated Maritime Presence.

“The Spanish Navy is part of the Coordinated Maritime Presence alongside countries like Italy, France, Portugal and Denmark. This initiative deploys vessels within the Gulf of Guinea to fight piracy in support of the Yaoundé Architecture and the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy,” the FOC said, noting that such collaboration contributed to Nigeria being delisted as a piracy-prone country.

Rear Admiral Mustapha also disclosed that the operationalisation of a Combined Maritime Task Force, headquartered in Nigeria, would further enhance coordination.

He hinted that “With the coming operationalisation of the Combined Maritime Task Force, which is headquartered here in Nigeria, operations in the Gulf of Guinea will become more robust and seamless between navies of participating countries”.

On planned activities, the FOC disclosed that a series of joint exercises, including Visit, Board, Search and Seizure operations with the Special Forces, as well as exercises on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, would take place . He added that cultural exchanges were also part of the visit.

“When you collaborate, you look at your tactics, techniques, and procedures. At the end of the exercise, we conduct what we call an after-action review to identify gaps and improve on them. It benefits both their Navy and our Navy,” he said.

Also speaking with journalists, Commanding Officer of BAM Furor, Lieutenant Commander Ángel Estrada, commended the professionalism of the Nigerian Navy, saying , “ I want to express that I have the highest consideration for the Nigerian Navy. From the very first moment we stepped into the country, we observed that the Navy is very professional. It is quite impressive.”

He disclosed that the Spanish team would spend five days in Lagos carrying out joint military activities.

“We will stay here for five days and we have planned military activities in order to strengthen cooperation and build capabilities for both the Nigerian and Spanish navies,” he added.

Estrada, who said it was his first visit to Nigeria, noted that the deployment was part of a wider European Union mission across the Gulf of Guinea.

He explained that “Before arriving in Lagos, we made port calls in Mauritania, Senegal, Gabon and Ghana. This is our fifth country in this deployment. We left Spain on January 19 and we expect to return on June 3, 2026. We are here on behalf of a European Union mission called Coordinated Maritime Presences. We want to support countries in the region to ensure a secure maritime environment because this area is of strategic value for both Spain and the European Union.”

He emphasised that both economic and security interests were driving the collaboration, noting: “The oil trade with Nigeria and the illegal activities that take place on the high seas have an impact on Spain and Europe. That is the main reason for our presence.”