By Joy Enamuna
Major international shipping companies, including Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company and Pacific International Lines, have welcomed the decision by the United States Coast Guard to lift the 12-year Condition of Entry imposed on vessels coming from Nigerian ports.
The shipping firms described the development as a sign of improved maritime security in Nigeria, saying it could boost trade and create fresh opportunities for direct shipping between Nigeria and the United States.
Maersk Terminal Planning Lead, West Africa, Srijesh Subramanian, said the lifting of the restriction would strengthen Nigeria’s position in global shipping and encourage shipping companies to consider expanding their operations.
“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 decision would encourage shipping operators to be more confident in their expansion plans, noting that the removal of the restriction indicated that Nigeria was now being viewed as a safer maritime environment.
Subramanian urged the relevant authorities to sustain the security improvements that led to the lifting of the restriction.
The Nigeria Director of Ocean Network Express, Stefan Pedersen, also congratulated Nigeria, saying the development showed that efforts by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency had yielded results.
“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 services between Nigeria and the United States, he said the removal of the restriction would make direct trade between the two countries easier and benefit shipping companies operating such routes.
The Managing Director of Pacific International Lines, Ugo Opiah, said the decision would also improve Nigeria’s image internationally, particularly in the area of maritime security.
He said the removal of the restriction showed that Nigeria had improved its security standards and “upped our game” in the maritime sector.
Meanwhile, the Vessel and Terminal Coordinator for Mediterranean Shipping Company, Adesina Omoparuwa, said the restriction had previously affected its operations by forcing the company to use trans-shipment arrangements for cargoes linked to the United States.
Omoparuwa said the lifting of the restriction could pave the way for more direct services between Nigeria and the US, creating opportunities for businesses engaged in trade between both countries.
The US Coast Guard’s decision applies to vessels that have called at Nigerian ports within their last five port calls and are destined for the United States.
The lifting of the Condition of Entry ends a 12-year period of enhanced security requirements for such vessels.
The development marks a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen maritime security, improve the competitiveness of Nigerian ports and enhance the country’s position in international shipping.
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