U.S. Coast Guard Removes Nigeria from Port Security Advisory List
The United States has formally rescinded the security restrictions that had been in place for over ten years on vessels arriving from Nigeria, Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola announced on Tuesday.
The decision, effective immediately, removes Nigeria from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Port Security Advisory (PSA) list, which had previously mandated additional security screenings and compliance checks for Nigerian-flagged or Nigerian-port-of-call vessels entering U.S. waters.
Operational and Economic Implications
Industry analysts anticipate that the removal of these measures will yield tangible benefits for maritime stakeholders, including:
- Reduced transit delays for vessels operating between Nigerian and U.S. ports;
- Lower operational costs due to the elimination of mandatory enhanced security protocols;
- Enhanced competitiveness of Nigerian ports in the West African sub-region; and
- Potential increase in direct shipping routes between Nigeria and U.S. trade hubs.
Minister Oyetola emphasized that the development reflects sustained improvements in Nigeria’s maritime security architecture, including strengthened port state control, enhanced surveillance capabilities, and closer collaboration with international maritime security frameworks.
The U.S. Coast Guard has not issued a formal statement on the matter, but the update has been reflected in the latest edition of the Federal Register, confirming the regulatory change.