The United States Coast Guard lifts the 12-year “Condition of Entry” (CoE) that applied to vessels traveling to the United States from Nigeria. Nigerian authorities announce the change, describing it as a milestone for maritime security and compliance.
The restriction, introduced in June 2014, required ships sailing from Nigerian ports to undergo additional security checks before entering U.S. waters. According to Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the U.S. Coast Guard confirms the lifting after multiple assessments carried out between 2024 and 2026, concluding that Nigeria has improved its implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Nigerian Eye also links the decision to expected benefits such as lower compliance costs, better vessel turnaround times, and improved port competitiveness.
Vanguard and Nigerian Eye both report the lifting of the CoE and attribute it to improved performance verified by U.S. authorities, while Nigerian Eye adds more detail on timing, the ISPS-related assessments, and potential economic and operational impacts for Nigeria’s maritime sector.
