US Coast Guard lifts 12-year condition of entry on vessels from Nigeria

The United States Coast Guard has removed Nigeria from its Port Security Advisory, citing improvements in the country’s implementation of effective antiterrorism measures at its ports.

The development lifts the Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigerian ports.

The policy takes effect on Wednesday, according to a notice issued in the U.S. Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The CoE, which took effect on 25 June, 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 gaining access to U.S. waters.

The U.S. imposed the conditions after determining that Nigeria was not implementing effective antiterrorism measures at its ports, with certain exceptions.

The Coast Guard said on Wednesday that it reached its decision following recent assessments of Nigeria’s port security measures.

“Based on recent assessments, the U.S. Coast Guard has determined that Nigeria is maintaining effective antiterrorism measures in its ports,” the notice stated.

FG reactions

While reacting to the development in a statement, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the development followed the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen maritime security, improve port competitiveness and enhance Nigeria’s standing in the global maritime industry.

Oyetola said lifting the restriction was a strong affirmation of Nigeria’s progress in strengthening its maritime security architecture and implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code across the country’s ports and maritime facilities.

He attributed the achievement to sustained efforts by the ministry, through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in collaboration with relevant government agencies, port operators, terminal and facility operators, shipping companies and other stakeholders.

According to the minister, the coordinated efforts were aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s maritime security framework, addressing identified gaps and demonstrating sustained compliance with internationally accepted maritime security standards.

Assessments

Oyetola explained that, 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.

He explained that the assessment results demonstrated significant progress in Nigeria’s maritime security performance and in the implementation of the ISPS Code, ultimately leading to the lifting of the Condition of Entry.

He further described the development as a significant achievement for Nigeria’s maritime sector, noting that it reflects the impact of sustained regulatory oversight, institutional collaboration and NIMASA’s commitment to strengthening maritime security.

“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.

“We are committed to sustaining this momentum and ensuring that Nigeria remains a safe, secure and competitive destination for international shipping,” the minister said.

Oyetola noted that the significance of the development extends beyond maritime security, with the potential to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of Nigerian ports and strengthen Nigeria’s position within the global maritime economy.

Implications

The lifting of the CoE will facilitate faster vessel turnaround and improve schedule reliability, while reducing costs associated with additional documentation, inspections, security measures and entry-related delays, he stated.

Oyetola said the development is also expected to make Nigerian ports more attractive to international shipping lines, encourage increased shipping activity and contribute to greater trade, investment, employment opportunities and port revenues.

According to him, the CoE measures had implications for shipping operators, including increased security and operating costs, additional inspections and documentation, delays in vessel turnaround, and higher freight and insurance costs over the past 10 years.

He added that the restrictions also raised broader concerns about the competitiveness of Nigerian ports and their perception within the international shipping community.

“With the lifting of the CoE, vessels calling at Nigerian ports and subsequently proceeding to the United States will no longer be subjected to the additional USCG security requirements imposed specifically under the restriction,” Oyetola stated.