The United States Coast Guard has lifted the 12-year Condition of Entry imposed on vessels arriving in the US from Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Tuesday in a statement shared on his X handle.
The restriction, which was imposed in June 2014, required vessels that had called at designated Nigerian ports before sailing to the United States to undergo additional security checks.
The development followed four assessments of Nigeria’s maritime security system and port facilities conducted by the US Coast Guard over the past two years.
The assessments were carried out in March and April 2024, March 2025 and April 2026.
According to the Federal Government, the assessments showed significant improvements in Nigeria’s maritime security and compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.
The improvements led to the removal of the restriction.
Oyetola described the development as a major milestone for Nigeria’s maritime sector, saying it reflected the progress made in strengthening security at the country’s ports and maritime facilities.
He attributed the achievement to the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and other stakeholders.
Oyetola said the lifting of the restriction would improve Nigeria’s port competitiveness, enhance vessel turnaround time and schedule reliability, reduce additional costs and strengthen the country’s position in the global maritime economy.
He also commended the Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, and other stakeholders for their contributions.
NIMASA also welcomed the development, saying the removal of the restriction would reduce additional security-related costs for vessels and improve the efficiency of shipping operations involving Nigerian ports.
The agency said the development would further strengthen Nigeria’s position in the international shipping industry.
