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By: Edward Sebbie Graham
The United States Coast Guard (USCG), has lifted the Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria, ending a 12-year regime of enhanced security scrutiny that has raised shipping costs and hurt Nigeria’s port competitiveness.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the latest development on Tuesday August 25, 2026, describing it as a major milestone for Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The CoE took effect on June 25, 2014. Under the rule, any vessel destined for the United States that had called at designated Nigerian ports within its last five port calls was required to undergo additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny before entering US waters. The imposition came to effect after USCG had concluded that Nigerian ports did not maintain effective anti-terrorism measures, citing deficiencies in the legal framework, oversight by the designated maritime security authority, access control and cargo handling procedures.
For shipowners, it meant extra inspections, documentation, and security procedures at US ports.
The decision followed four comprehensive assessments of Nigeria’s national maritime security framework and port facilities conducted between March 2024 and April 2026. According to details released by the Federal Government, the assessments were held on:
March 11-13, 2024, April 15-19, 2024, March 15-21, 2025 and April 13-17, 2026.
Oyetola said the audits showed major progress in maritime security and compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security, ISPS, Code.
He credited the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), port and terminal operators, and other stakeholders for the sustained reforms.
The lifting means vessels calling at Nigerian ports before sailing to the United States will no longer be subject to the additional security requirements imposed under the program. Industry players had long argued that the CoE increased operating costs through additional inspections, documentation requirements and security procedures, while contributing to delays, higher freight rates and increased insurance costs.
With the removal, the government expects: Faster vessel turnaround and improved schedule reliability, lower freight rates and insurance premiums for Nigeria-bound cargo, increased attractiveness of Nigerian ports to major international shipping lines and a boost to Nigeria’s ambition to become a regional maritime hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
Nigeria is the United States’ second-largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, with two-way commerce valued at about15 billion dollars, driven largely by petroleum exports. Transport authorities expect the policy shift to encourage more direct calls and reduce transit costs.
The Provisional Committee of the Proposed Nigerian Coast Guard has also reacted, welcoming the lift but calling it a call for correction, noting Nigeria was first notified of deficiencies on March 26, 2013, before the CoE was imposed in 2014.
The USCG list still has 23 other countries under Condition of Entry restrictions for similar ISPS Code compliance issues.
After 12 years on the US security watchlist, Nigerian ports have been recertified as ISPS-compliant. The paperwork is gone, the costs should drop, and the competition for West African cargo just got tighter.
Experts call the ban lifting a smart move by the US to make up for a possible disruption in the supply of petroleum products given the stalemate between US and Iran over developments at the Strait of Hormuz.
