Africa-Press – Nigeria. The U.S. government has praised the ongoing maritime security reforms in Nigeria, following the lifting of the Condition of Entry (CoE) that had been imposed on Nigerian vessels for 12 years.
The U.S. Coast Guard had imposed this Condition of Entry on ships coming from Nigerian ports in 2014, after concluding that those ports were not implementing effective counter-terrorism measures.
During the period this condition was in effect, vessels docking at the relevant Nigerian port facilities were required to take additional security measures before heading to the United States, resulting in extra compliance requirements and additional costs for operators. This measure was not a trade ban but required additional security measures for the affected vessels.
The U.S. Coast Guard removed Nigeria from the list of “port security alerts” on August 19, 2026, effectively ending the Condition of Entry, thanks to improvements in Nigeria’s port security and compliance with counter-terrorism measures.
Officials noted that this development is expected to reduce security-related costs, improve vessel turnaround times (the speed of operations at ports), and enhance trade flow between Nigeria and the United States.
Frank Garcia, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, conveyed this praise in a letter dated August 26, addressed to Nigeria’s Minister of Marine Affairs and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Garcia described this development as evidence of Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to enhancing port security and compliance with counter-terrorism measures, following the announcement made by the U.S. Coast Guard in August.
He stated, “Allow me to share my welcome for the U.S. Coast Guard’s decision to lift the security restrictions – which lasted 12 years – imposed on vessels flying the Nigerian flag entering U.S. ports.”
The senior U.S. diplomat noted that the removal of these restrictions will lead to reduced security requirements and associated costs for vessels operating between the two countries.
Garcia also mentioned that the decision will contribute to improving vessel turnaround times and the reliability of schedules for ships involved in trade between Nigeria and the United States, thereby strengthening maritime and economic relations between them. He stated that the United States values its maritime and economic partnership with Nigeria and looks forward to continuing cooperation to enhance safe, efficient, and mutually beneficial trade.
He added, “We are pleased that this important step will lead to reduced security requirements and associated costs for vessels operating between our countries, as well as contribute to improved vessel turnaround times and schedule reliability.”
Garcia commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for its ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard over the years and its commitment to addressing a high-risk security environment.
In response, Oyetola praised the leadership of Bola Tinubu and the strategic support provided to achieve this milestone, particularly the administration’s prioritization of the maritime economy (blue economy).
The minister described the lifting of the Condition of Entry as a significant achievement for the maritime sector in Nigeria and a confirmation of the progress made in enhancing maritime security and compliance with international standards.
He noted that this development underscores the importance of continued communication and cooperation with international maritime partners, with NIMASA playing a pivotal role in this collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard.
He stated, “With the lifting of the Condition of Entry, Nigerian ports are now better positioned to compete for international shipping business, and shipping lines operating between Nigeria and the United States will benefit from this move.”
He added, “This will be achieved through reduced security costs, decreased regulatory burdens, improved vessel turnaround times, and increased schedule reliability.”
