Lifting of the Condition of Entry marks a significant milestone in the Nigerian government’s efforts to strengthen maritime security, improve port competitiveness and enhance the country’s standing in the global maritime industry.
By Blue Africa News
Nigeria’s maritime sector has just become significantly more attractive to local and overseas investment after the United States Coast Guard lifted a 12-year Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria. The move is expected to significantly impact the entire sector.
Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy in statement signed and issued on his behalf by the Deputy Director/Head of Public Relations at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Edward Osagie on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, described the development as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The development brings to an end a 12-year regime of enhanced security requirements on vessels that call at Nigerian ports before entering the United States.
“The Condition of Entry, which took effect on June 25, 2014, required vessels destined for the United States that had called at designated Nigerian ports within their previous five port calls to undergo additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny before gaining access to US waters,” the statement said, in part as quoted by punchng.com.
The move marks a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen maritime security, improve port competitiveness and enhance Nigeria’s standing in the global maritime industry.
Lifting of the restriction, the minister noted, is a strong affirmation of the progress made by Nigeria in strengthening its maritime security architecture, and implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code across the country’s ports and maritime facilities.
ISPS Code was developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), before it became mandatory under the SOLAS Convention (Safety of Life at Sea) in 2004.
The ISPS Code was created in direct response to growing global concerns about terrorism, especially after the events of September 11, 2001, where coordinated series of al-Qaeda suicide attacks were perpetrated against the United States. Nearly 3,000 innocent lives were lost.
The minister said the new development came on the backdrop of the United States Coast Guard conducting four comprehensive assessments of Nigeria’s national maritime security framework and port facilities, over the past two years.
“The assessments were carried out from March 11–13, 2024; April 15–19, 2024; March 15–21, 2025; and April 13–17, 2026. The results of the assessments demonstrated significant progress in Nigeria’s maritime security performance and implementation of the ISPS Code, ultimately leading to the lifting of the Condition of Entry,” said Oyetola.
“The lifting of the Conditions of Entry is a major milestone for Nigeria’s maritime sector. It is a strong affirmation of the progress we have made in strengthening maritime security and implementing the ISPS Code across our ports and facilities.”
Experts say lifting of the Condition of Entry comes with a lot of positives for Nigeria. According to Septmax Nigeria Limited, a licensed customs clearing agency in Nigeria, the move means reduction in additional security and documentation requirements, improved vessel turnaround and schedule reliability, lower costs associated with inspections and entry-related delays, and makes Nigerian ports more attractive to international shipping lines.
It also means strengthening Nigeria’s reputation within the global maritime community and supporting increased trade, investment and employment opportunities.
“This is more than a regulatory change, it is a confidence boost for Nigeria’s maritime and logistics sector and an important step toward making our ports more competitive globally,” the company shared on its LinkedIn page.
“As the industry moves forward, sustained compliance, security and collaboration will be essential to ensuring that this progress translates into more efficient trade and better opportunities for businesses.”
As Nigeria exits the list, several other African countries remain on the list of nations whose ports are subject to enhanced operational conditions by the US.
They include Cameroon, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, The Gambia, Libya, Madagascar, Sudan, Seychelles and Sao Tome and Principe.
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News
