US removes condition of entry on Nigerian vessels after 12 years
The United States has removed a 12-year-long embargo requiring vessels that called at Nigeria’s ports within their previous five port calls to undergo additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny before gaining access to US waters.
Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of Marine and Blue Economy, who announced this on Tuesday, according to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said the lifting of the restriction affirmed the progress made by Nigeria in strengthening its maritime security architecture.
“It is a strong affirmation of the progress we have made in strengthening maritime security and implementing the ISPS Code across our ports and facilities,” Oyetola said.
The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code is an international security framework adopted under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to protect ships and port facilities from security threats such as terrorism, sabotage and unauthorised access. It requires countries, ports, terminals and ships to assess security risks, establish security plans, control access and maintain measures for responding to threats.
NIMASA became the designated authority responsible for its implementation in 2013, after a United States Coast Guard (USCG) assessment identified significant compliance gaps at Nigerian ports.