The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has lifted the Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria, ending a 12-year regime of enhanced security requirements for ships calling at Nigerian ports.
The development is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian ports, improve vessel turnaround and enhance Nigeria’s standing in the global maritime industry.
The CoE, which took effect on June 25, 2014, required vessels destined for the United States that had called at designated Nigerian ports within their previous five port calls to undergo additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny before entering U.S. waters.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, described the lifting of the restriction as a major milestone and an affirmation of Nigeria’s progress in strengthening maritime security and implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code across its ports and maritime facilities.
Oyetola attributed the development to sustained efforts by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in collaboration with government agencies, port and terminal operators, shipping companies and other stakeholders.
According to him, the coordinated efforts focused on strengthening Nigeria’s maritime security framework, addressing identified gaps and demonstrating sustained compliance with international maritime security standards.
The USCG conducted four comprehensive assessments of Nigeria’s national maritime security framework and port facilities over the past two years. The assessments were carried out from March 11 to 13, 2024; April 15 to 19, 2024; March 15 to 21, 2025; and April 13 to 17, 2026.
The assessments recorded significant progress in Nigeria’s maritime security performance and implementation of the ISPS Code, culminating in the lifting of the CoE.
“The lifting of the Conditions of Entry is a major milestone for Nigeria’s maritime sector. It is a strong affirmation of the progress we have made in strengthening maritime security and implementing the ISPS Code across our ports and facilities,” Oyetola said.
He added that the government would sustain efforts to ensure that Nigeria remains a safe, secure and competitive destination for international shipping.
The minister also commended NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, and his team for their contribution to the achievement, saying it demonstrated the impact of effective regulation, stakeholder collaboration and sustained investment in maritime security.
Oyetola said the lifting of the restriction would have implications beyond maritime security, with the potential to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of Nigerian ports and strengthen the country’s position in the global maritime economy.
The development is expected to facilitate faster vessel turnaround and improve schedule reliability while reducing costs associated with additional documentation, inspections, security measures and entry-related delays.
It could also make Nigerian ports more attractive to international shipping lines, potentially increasing shipping activity and contributing to higher trade, investment, employment and port revenues.
For more than a decade, vessels trading between Nigeria and the United States were subjected to additional security and operational requirements under the CoE, resulting in increased security and operating costs, additional inspections and documentation, vessel turnaround delays and higher freight and insurance costs.
With the lifting of the restriction, vessels calling at Nigerian ports before proceeding to the United States will no longer be subjected to the additional USCG security requirements imposed specifically under the CoE.
