The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has lifted the Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria since June 2014.
The development was announced by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who attributed the lifting of the restriction to sustained efforts by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other industry stakeholders to enhance maritime security and ensure Nigeria’s compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
The Condition of Entry, which had been in place for more than 12 years, subjected vessels arriving in the United States from Nigerian ports to additional security requirements.
Its removal is expected to ease some of the operational and security related burdens associated with vessels trading between Nigeria and the United States, while improving the efficiency and attractiveness of Nigerian ports.
According to Oyetola, the development represents a major achievement for Nigeria’s maritime sector and reflects the impact of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening security and regulatory compliance across the country’s maritime domain.
The Minister commended the Director General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, and other stakeholders for their contributions towards achieving the milestone.
He said the lifting of the CoE would further position Nigeria to compete more effectively in the global maritime industry.
The development is also expected to improve port competitiveness, enhance vessel turnaround and schedule reliability, reduce additional security related costs and boost confidence among international shipping lines and operators doing business with Nigeria.
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