Shipping Giants Welcome US Removal of Nigeria Port Restriction

By Stella Okocha

Major international shipping lines operating in Nigeria have welcomed the decision by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to lift the 12-year Condition of Entry (COE) imposed on vessels calling at Nigerian ports and subsequently bound for the United States.

Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Ocean Network Express (ONE) described the development as a boost to Nigeria’s maritime industry, saying it could improve trade and strengthen confidence in the country’s maritime security.

The USCG decision ends the enhanced security measures previously imposed on vessels that had visited Nigerian ports within their last five port calls before proceeding to the United States.

Reacting to the development, Maersk’s Terminal Planning Lead, West Africa, Srijesh Subramanian, said the removal of the restriction would strengthen Nigeria’s position in global shipping and create opportunities for increased trade.

“This is a welcome move which will enable better trade both for the importers as well as the exporters because we have quite a lot of exports going on, lots of Nigerians in the US,” Subramanian said.

He added that the development could encourage shipping companies to consider expanding their operations.

“Shipping companies will be a little more bold in their expansion plans for the future. With the US removal of the Condition of Entry, it is saying that Nigeria looks more like a safer environment than previously perceived,” he said.

Subramanian urged relevant authorities to sustain the gains recorded in maritime security.

Also welcoming the decision, ONE Nigeria Director, Stefan Pedersen, congratulated Nigeria, saying the development demonstrates the progress made by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other stakeholders in improving maritime security.

“Congratulations to Nigeria on the lifting of the Condition of Entry. It shows the work that NIMASA has been doing all these years has actually paid off,” Pedersen said.

Although ONE does not currently operate direct sailings between Nigeria and the United States, Pedersen said the removal of the restriction would make direct trade easier for shipping lines serving the US market.

“When restrictions go away, it usually improves trade, so for our colleagues in the industry that have direct sailings to the US, it’s going to make it easier for them,” he added.

Similarly, PIL Managing Director, Ugo Opiah, said the development would positively affect Nigeria’s image as a maritime nation.

“I think it’s a very good one in terms of the image,” Opiah said, adding that the lifting of the restriction showed that Nigeria had made progress in maritime security.

“For Nigeria, with this being lifted after the number of years that it had been on us, it does give a good sign that we have upped our game in terms of anything to do with security in the maritime industry,” he added.

For MSC, the lifting of the restriction could help reduce trans-shipment and create opportunities for more direct shipping services between Nigeria and the United States.

MSC Vessel and Terminal Coordinator, Adesina Omoparuwa, said the previous restriction had resulted in additional trans-shipment requirements for some cargo moving between both countries.

“Because of this restriction, we have to do some trans-shipments. We do not have direct services to the US like we have now in China,” Omoparuwa said.

He said the new development could facilitate more direct services and create opportunities for businesses trading between Nigeria and the United States.

The lifting of the COE, which had been in place for 12 years, marks a significant development in Nigeria’s maritime security efforts and could enhance the competitiveness of its ports.

Industry stakeholders have, however, stressed the need for Nigeria to sustain the security improvements that led to the removal of the restriction and consolidate its position in the global maritime industry.