The United States Coast Guard has officially described Nigerian seaports as safe, following significant strides made by Nigeria in implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code across the nation’s port facilities.
According to a report by LEADERSHIP, this positive designation is a step toward lifting the Condition of Entry (CoE) previously imposed on vessels departing Nigeria for the United States, which required additional security protocols.
Speaking to journalists during a working tour, Joe Prince Larson, who led the U.S. Coast Guard team from the International Port Security Programme, praised the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for its effective implementation of international maritime security standards.
“Nigeria’s compliance with the ISPS Code ranks among the best globally,” Larson said.
The assessment tour included visits to key facilities such as the Dangote Port and Lekki Free Trade Zones in Lagos, as well as Matrix and Julius Berger-operated terminals in Warri, Delta State.
The endorsement from the U.S. Coast Guard signals increased confidence in Nigeria’s maritime security infrastructure, paving the way for enhanced global trade, reduced shipping restrictions, and greater investor confidence in the nation’s port operations.
The team had earlier conducted assessment visits to the Dangote Port and Lekki Free Trade Zones in Lekki, Lagos State, and private port facilities operated by Matrix and Julius Berger in Warri, Delta State.
While delivering an interim assessment report to NIMASA Management, Larson added that his team would report their findings to the US Coast Guard leadership accordingly and expressed confidence that NIMASA could maintain the high standards attained to date.
“We had the pleasure of visiting Matrix and Julius Berger in Warri, Delta State, before proceeding to the Lekki Deep Seaport and Dangote Port in Lagos, with the overall assessment being very positive.
“We noted that there is a clear and deep understanding of the implementation of the ISPS Code in Nigeria with the level of compliance observed to be at par with some of the best maritime nations globally.”