The Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy on Friday, said that maritime crime was borderless, urging all African navies and others countries to eradicate the menace.

The Western Naval Command Chief Staff Officer (CSO), Rear Adm. Hamza Kaoje, made this known while receiving the Commanding Officer Spanish Naval Ship BAM RELAMPAGO and the Ambassador at the Command in Apapa, Lagos.

He said that the Navy and Nigeria as a whole was doing whatever it is to improve on making the water safe.

“Maritime crime is borderless. For instance, if you stop it in Nigeria, you will discover that it will go elsewhere.

“We all know that Nigeria has been delisted from the list of pirate countries in the world.

“We achieved this through the collaboration of other international stakeholders.

“Every year the Spanish sends their vessels to come and exercise with us and everytime they come, we train a lot because training can’t be over emphasised,” he said.

The CSO appealed to the Spanish ambassador for his country’s continued support in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

The CSO who also talked about illegal and unreported fishing in the Nigerian waters, appealed for more support from the Spanish government to eradicate the menace.

He also called for more support in terms of training and more exercises from both countries, adding that training and retraining of naval personnel was needed all the time.

Earlier, the Spanish Ambassador, Mr Juan Sell, during his remarks, assured the Nigerian Navy of his continued support at ensuring the maritime space is criminality free.

He also assured the Navy of the Spanish continued bi-lateral relations, adding that the Nigeria Navy has been doing a great job at keeping the water safe.

Hybridnewsng.com reports that the Commanding Officer Spanish Naval Ship BAM RELAMPAGO who paid a port call to Lagos was aimed at strengthening the existing bilateral relations between Spain and Nigeria.

Present during the visit was the Spanish Ambassador, H.E. Mr Juan Sell (Ambassador), Mr Daniel Losada (Consul General), Ms Patricia Gómez (Consul), Mr. Tomás Fernández (Commercial Counsellor), Mr Martin Rubio (Commercial Attachée), Mrs Eva Barta (Cultural Attachée) Ltcdr Alberto ligero Soria (CO RELAMPAGO) with other delegates.