By Joy Enamuna
International shipping companies operating in Nigeria have welcomed the decision by the United States Coast Guard to lift the 12-year Condition of Entry imposed on vessels originating from Nigerian ports and sailing to the United States.
The shipping lines, including Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Pacific International Lines and Ocean Network Express, said the removal of the restriction was an indication of improved maritime security in Nigeria and would create opportunities for increased trade between both countries.
The United States Coast Guard had imposed the Condition of Entry on vessels that had visited Nigerian ports among their last five port calls and were heading to the US.
Reacting to the development, Maersk Terminal Planning Lead, West Africa, Srijesh Subramanian, described the decision as a welcome development that would boost trade between Nigeria and the United States.
Subramanian said the lifting of the restriction would benefit both importers and exporters while encouraging shipping companies to consider expanding their operations.
He said, “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.
“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.”
The Maersk official urged relevant authorities to sustain the improvement in maritime security, noting that the development reflected growing confidence in Nigeria’s maritime environment.
Similarly, the Director of Ocean Network Express in Nigeria, Stefan Pedersen, congratulated Nigeria on the lifting of the restriction, saying it demonstrated the impact of efforts by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to improve maritime security.
Pedersen said although ONE did not currently operate direct services between Nigeria and the US, the removal of the restriction could make direct trade between both countries easier for shipping companies that operate such routes.
Pacific International Lines also welcomed the development, with its Managing Director, Ugo Opiah, saying it would improve Nigeria’s image as a serious maritime nation and demonstrate progress in maritime security.
Opiah said the removal of the restriction after 12 years was a positive indication that Nigeria had improved its security standards in the maritime sector.
Meanwhile, the Mediterranean Shipping Company said the restriction had previously affected its operations by requiring some cargoes to pass through trans-shipment ports before reaching their destinations.
The company’s Vessel and Terminal Coordinator, Adesina Omoparuwa, said the lifting of the restriction could create opportunities for more direct services between Nigeria and the United States.
He said, “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.
“Basically, China’s service that we have now, we didn’t have them before; we have to go through trans-shipment ports, but now with this development, it will give us more direct service from the US and opportunities for people that are doing business from the US to come directly down to Nigeria.”
The lifting of the Condition of Entry ends the 12-year enhanced security regime for vessels that have called at Nigerian ports within their last five port calls before proceeding to the United States.
The development is also expected to strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to improve maritime security, enhance port competitiveness and increase its participation in global shipping trade.
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