The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has lifted the 12-year Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has announced.
The development marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s maritime sector and is expected to boost the competitiveness of Nigerian ports and strengthen the country’s position in the global maritime industry.
The Condition of Entry, introduced on June 25, 2014, subjected vessels that had called at designated Nigerian ports within their previous five port calls to additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny before entering US waters.
According to Oyetola, the lifting of the restriction reflects significant improvements in Nigeria’s maritime security architecture and the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code across the country’s ports and maritime facilities.
The Minister attributed the achievement to sustained efforts by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, 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.
The US Coast Guard conducted four comprehensive assessments of Nigeria’s maritime security framework and port facilities between March 2024 and April 2026. The assessments, according to the Ministry, demonstrated significant progress in Nigeria’s maritime security performance and ISPS Code compliance.
Oyetola described the lifting of the CoE as a major achievement, saying it would help improve vessel turnaround time, schedule reliability and the overall efficiency of Nigerian ports.
The development is also expected to reduce costs associated with additional inspections, documentation and security measures, while making Nigerian ports more attractive to international shipping lines.
The Minister commended the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, and his team for their contribution to the achievement, stressing the need to sustain the progress made in maritime security.
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 Condition of Entry regime.
