US Praises Nigeria for Ending 12-Year Maritime Restrictions; Oyetola Credits President Tinubu

By Aminat Damilola, Assistant Editor

The U.S. government has commended Nigeria for improving its maritime security, leading to the removal of a 12-year entry restriction on ships coming from Nigeria.

This change will lower shipping costs, speed up port visits, and boost trade between both nations.

In an August 26, 2026, letter to Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank W. Garcia Jr. congratulated Nigeria on the milestone.

Garcia called the achievement evidence of the country’s “sustained strengthening of port security and anti-terrorism compliance”

The letter offers a fresh endorsement from Washington, following the U.S. Coast Guard’s August decision to lift long-standing security restrictions on ships arriving from Nigeria.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Garcia highlighted the economic impact of the decision, noting that removing the restriction “will reduce security-related requirements and associated costs for vessels operating between our two countries”

The senior U.S. diplomat noted that this change will also make shipping between Nigeria and the U.S. faster and more reliable.

The letter reads in part: “Please allow me to join you in welcoming the U.S. Coast Guard’s decision to lift the 12-year security restriction on Nigerian-flagged vessels calling at American ports. This achievement reflects Nigeria’s sustained strengthening of port security and anti-terrorism compliance.

“We are pleased that this milestone will reduce security-related requirements and associated costs for vessels operating between our two countries. It will also improve turnaround times and schedule reliability. The United States values its maritime and economic partnerships with Nigeria and looks forward to continued collaboration promoting secure, efficient, and mutually beneficial trade between our nations.

“We appreciate the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s years-long collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and its continued commitment to addressing the current high threat environment. Please accept my sincere congratulations on this significant accomplishment.”

Speaking on the development, Minister Oyetola credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and strategic support for the milestone, particularly the administration’s decision to prioritise the marine and blue economy as a key pillar of Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.

The Minister described the lifting of the CoE as a major achievement for Nigeria’s maritime sector and an affirmation of the progress made in strengthening maritime security and compliance.

The development also underscores the importance of the Federal Government’s sustained engagement with international maritime partners, with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) playing a central role in the long-running collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard.

“With the Condition of Entry now removed, Nigerian ports are better positioned to compete for international shipping business, while shipping lines operating between Nigeria and the United States stand to benefit from lower security-related costs, fewer procedural burdens, improved turnaround times and greater schedule reliability,” Oyetola said.