US coast guard lifts 12-year entry restriction on US-bound ships from Nigeria

The United States Coast Guard has lifted the 12-year Condition of Entry imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the development on Tuesday in a statement posted on his X handle.

The Condition of Entry, which was imposed in June 2014, required vessels calling at designated Nigerian ports before proceeding to the United States to undergo additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny.

Over the past two years, the United States Coast Guard conducted four comprehensive assessments of Nigeria’s national maritime security framework and port facilities. The assessments were carried out from March 11–13, 2024; April 15–19, 2024; March 15–21, 2025; and April 13–17, 2026.

The results of the assessments demonstrated significant progress in Nigeria’s maritime security performance and implementation of the ISPS Code, ultimately leading to the lifting of the CoE.

Oyetola described the lifting as a major milestone for Nigeria’s maritime sector and an affirmation of the progress made in strengthening maritime security and implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code across the country’s ports and facilities.

He said the development followed sustained efforts by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and other stakeholders to strengthen maritime security and ensure compliance with international standards.

He said, “Nigeria’s maritime sector has achieved a major milestone: the United States Coast Guard has lifted the 12-year Condition of Entry imposed on vessels arriving in the U.S. from Nigeria.

“This is a strong affirmation of the progress we have made in strengthening maritime security and implementing the ISPS Code across our ports and facilities.

“I commend our agencies and stakeholders for their sustained collaboration. This achievement will enhance port competitiveness, improve vessel turnaround and schedule reliability, reduce costs and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global maritime economy.

“We will sustain this momentum and ensure Nigeria remains a safe, secure and competitive destination for international shipping.”

Meanwhile, NIMASA, in a statement on its social media pages, said the lifting of the CoE was expected to improve port competitiveness, enhance vessel turnaround and schedule reliability, reduce additional security-related costs and strengthen Nigeria’s position in global shipping.

Oyetola commended the Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, and other stakeholders for their contributions to the development.