US ends 12-year security restrictions on Nigerian ships

The United States has lifted a 12-year Condition of Entry restriction on Nigerian vessels arriving at American ports, according to a Nairametrics report published Tuesday.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the development via NIMASA’s X page, describing it as a major milestone following sustained compliance efforts with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

The US Coast Guard had imposed the restriction in June 2014 over anti-terrorism deficiencies at Nigerian ports. Its removal is expected to cut security-related costs, improve vessel turnaround, strengthen schedule reliability, and boost Nigeria’s competitiveness in global shipping networks.