# Spanish warship in Nigeria for exercise

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2023/05/spanish-warship-in-nigeria-for-exercise/
- Published: 2023-05-26T08:21:12+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

A Spanish warship named ESPS Audaz has docked in Lagos to reinforce the military
ties between Nigeria and Spain and deliver defence diplomacy.

Audaz, constructed by [Navantia](https://www.military.africa/2022/10/morocco-secures-92-million-loan-for-spanish-navantia-avante-1400-opv/),
is one of the four OPVs (Offshore Patrol Vessels) built for the Spanish Navy under
the extension of “1st series navy ships”. It was delivered in July 2018, and it 
has its docking base in Cartagena, Spain. The personnel of ESPS ‘Audaz’ is made 
up of 77 people, among them are an Operational Security Team of Marines and a reinforcement
of soldiers and seamen for specific capacities. It is commanded by the Captain of
Corvette Marcos de Sousa Fuchs.

A statement on Wednesday said the ESPS Audaz moored in Lagos port on May 13 to demonstrate
the Spanish government’s commitment to the security of the Gulf of Guinea.

It noted that Lagos was significant, being Nigeria’s most populated city and the
country’s economic centre.

“During the port visit, several activities were conducted, including military cooperation,
defence diplomacy, as well as logistic operations. The ESPS Audaz is currently deployed
in the Gulf of Guinea, integrated into the operational structure of the Armed Forces
and under the framework of the Coordinated Maritime Presence of the European Union,
in order to deliver maritime security into an area of vital strategic interest,”
a statement released by the navy said.

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“During this period, 18,000 nautical miles have been steamed by the warship. During
the four-day port visit, several military cooperation activities were carried out,”
the naval statement added.

ESPS “Audaz” first acted as a target ship in an operation simulating a piracy scenario,
where a Special Operations Maritime Task Unit from the Nigerian Navy Special Boat
Squadron participated.

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It further added that a Spanish delegation, led by the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria,
Juan Ignacio Sell, visited the Western Naval Command as well as the project “Falcon
Eye”, an example of vanguard and leadership in maritime security.

“Once at sea, three Nigerian officers embarked on board ESPS ‘Audaz’ to reinforce
interoperability and bonds between sister navies. These activities are essential
to deliver maritime security alongside coastal states, in order to achieve a safe
and secure maritime environment,” the statement added.

This is the second visit of ESPS Audaz to Lagos since it left Spain four months 
ago.

Similarly, the Offshore Patrol Vessel ESPS ‘Audaz’ called at the port of Tema on
March 6, where it carried out military activities with the Ghanaian Armed Forces
for six days.

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