US Lifts Nigeria Ship Security Restrictions After 12 Years
The United States Coast Guard has removed the Conditions of Entry it imposed on vessels from most Nigerian ports in June 2014, a change Nigeria announced on 18 August 2026 and that took effect the next day. The post US Lifts Nigeria Ship Security Restrictions After 12 Years appeared first on The Rio Times .
United States Coast Guard has lifted Nigeria's ship security restrictions after 12 years, ending the extra maritime security measures that applied to vessels arriving from most Nigerian ports. The move was announced by Nigeria's Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, and took effect on Wednesday, 19 August 2026.
The decision comes after a steady decline in piracy incidents in Nigerian waters, which fell from 48 attacks in 2018 to just one in 2024, according to the International Maritime Bureau. Nigeria's maritime security project, known as Deep Blue, launched in 2021, played a significant role in improving the country's anti-terrorism measures, leading to the removal of the restrictions.
The United States still maintains a Level 3 Reconsider Travel advisory for Nigeria and a maritime advisory warning of piracy and kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea. However, the lift in ship security restrictions is expected to reduce shipping costs and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
Written by urgent.news from The Rio Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
