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.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed the development on Tuesday in a statement shared on his X handle.
The Condition of Entry, introduced in June 2014, required vessels that had called at designated Nigerian ports before travelling to the US to undergo additional security checks and enhanced scrutiny.
According to the minister, the US Coast Guard carried out four comprehensive assessments of Nigeria’s national maritime security framework and port facilities over the past two years.
The assessments were conducted from March 11 to 13, 2024; April 15 to 19, 2024; March 15 to 21, 2025; and April 13 to 17, 2026.
The assessments showed significant improvements in Nigeria’s maritime security performance and implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
The progress ultimately led to the lifting of the Condition of Entry imposed on Nigerian vessels.
Oyetola described the lifting of the restriction as a major milestone for Nigeria’s maritime sector, saying it affirmed 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 attributed the development to sustained efforts by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and other stakeholders to improve 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, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in a statement shared on its social media pages, said the lifting of the CoE would improve port competitiveness and enhance vessel turnaround and schedule reliability.
The agency added that the development would reduce additional security-related costs and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global shipping industry.
Oyetola also commended NIMASA Director-General, Dayo Mobereola, and other stakeholders for their contributions towards achieving the milestone.