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 period of enhanced security requirements for ships calling at Nigerian ports.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the development, describing it as a major milestone for Nigeria’s maritime sector and a strong indication of improvements in the country’s maritime security standards.
The Condition of Entry, which came into effect on June 25, 2014, required vessels bound 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 US waters.
According to Oyetola, the lifting of the restriction reflects Nigeria’s progress in strengthening maritime security and implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code across its ports and maritime facilities.
He 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 operators, terminal and facility operators, shipping companies and other industry stakeholders.
“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.
Reasons For Restriction Lifting
The United States Coast Guard 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 11–13, 2024; April 15–19, 2024; March 15–21, 2025; and April 13–17, 2026.
The results showed significant improvements in Nigeria’s maritime security performance and implementation of the ISPS Code, paving the way for the removal of the additional US security requirements.
Oyetola also commended NIMASA Director-General, Dayo Mobereola, and his team for their contribution to the development, saying it demonstrated the impact of effective regulation, institutional collaboration and sustained investment in maritime security.
The minister said the decision has implications beyond security, with the potential to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of Nigerian ports and strengthen the country’s position in the global maritime economy.
With the CoE lifted, vessels calling at Nigerian ports before proceeding to the United States will no longer be subjected to the additional security requirements imposed specifically under the restriction.
The change is expected to improve vessel turnaround times and 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, trade, investment, employment and port revenues.
