U.S. Government Commends Nigeria’s Maritime Security Reforms

The United States Government has commended Nigeria for reforms in maritime security that culminated in the lifting of a 12-year Condition of Entry (CoE) restriction imposed on Nigerian vessels calling at U.S. ports.

The development was disclosed on Sunday in Lagos by Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola.

Akinola said the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, congratulated Oyetola on the development in a letter dated August 26, 2026.

Garcia described the removal of the restriction as a reflection of Nigeria’s sustained efforts to strengthen port security and meet international anti-terrorism and maritime security requirements.

According to him, the decision by the U.S. Coast Guard would significantly ease security-related requirements for Nigerian vessels operating between the two countries and reduce the associated costs.

He added that the lifting of the restriction was also expected to improve vessel turnaround times and enhance schedule reliability for shipping lines involved in Nigeria-U.S. trade.

“Please allow me to join you in welcoming the U.S. Coast Guard’s decision.

“This reflects Nigeria’s sustained strengthening of port security and anti-terrorism compliance,” Garcia said.

The U.S. diplomat reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its maritime and economic partnership with Nigeria, saying the United States looked forward to continued collaboration with the Nigerian government to promote secure, efficient and mutually beneficial trade.

Reacting to the development, Oyetola attributed the achievement to the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the administration’s decision to make the marine and blue economy a key component of its economic transformation agenda.

The minister said the lifting of the CoE restriction would boost the competitiveness of Nigerian ports by enabling shipping operators to benefit from lower costs, fewer procedural requirements and improved operational efficiency in trade between Nigeria and the United States.

Oyetola also acknowledged the critical role played by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in the years-long engagement and collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard that led to the removal of the restriction.

He said NIMASA’s sustained commitment to the process demonstrated Nigeria’s progress in maritime security, regulatory compliance and international cooperation.

The minister expressed optimism that the development would further strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector and support the country’s efforts to position its ports as more competitive and efficient gateways for international trade.

(NAN)