By Lizzy Chirkpi
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has lifted the Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria since June 2014.
The development was announced on Tuesday by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, who described the decision as a “major milestone for Nigeria’s maritime sector.”
According to Oyetola, the lifting of the 12-year-old restriction followed sustained efforts by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other stakeholders to strengthen maritime security and ensure compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
He said the development was expected to deliver significant benefits to Nigeria’s maritime industry by improving port competitiveness, operational efficiency and the reliability of shipping operations.
“The lifting of the CoE is expected to improve port competitiveness, enhance vessel turnaround and schedule reliability, reduce additional security-related costs and strengthen Nigeria’s position in global shipping,” Oyetola said.
The minister commended the NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, and other stakeholders for their contributions towards addressing the security and compliance concerns that led to the imposition of the restriction.
Oyetola said the development represented an important step towards positioning Nigeria’s maritime industry for greater competitiveness in the global shipping market.
He described the achievement as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to build “a safer, more secure and competitive Nigerian maritime sector.”
The Condition of Entry had required vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria to comply with additional security measures following concerns over maritime and port facility security.
Its removal is expected to ease some of the operational burdens associated with Nigerian-linked shipping activities, improve vessel turnaround and schedule reliability, reduce additional security-related costs and enhance Nigeria’s standing among international maritime partners.
The development also underscores the progress made by Nigeria in strengthening maritime security and complying with international port and shipping standards.