Esther Oritse
Lagos — As part of ongoing port security checks, the United States Coast Guard is currently in Lagos to assess selected port facilities for adherence to the International Ship and Port Facility Security, ISPS Code. ISPS Code.
Sources close the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, disclosed that the team will Tin-Can Island Port TCIPC, today.
It was also gathered that the week-long exercise will end on Friday, 6th of March 2026. Please be informed that the United States
Sources within the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) disclosed that the visiting team “will be at the Tin-Can Island Port today.”
It was further gathered that the exercise, described as a week-long security assessment, “will end on Friday, March 6, 2026.”
According to a memo sighted by our correspondent, “one of the reasons for the visit is to assess ISPS Code compliance within ports and facilities, with a view to lifting the Condition of Entry (COE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria.”
The memo added that “the team will access the port through Abuja Gate or First Gate to TICT and exit through the Second Gate.”
“OIC of the aforementioned ingress and egress points are to intensify stringent access control measures from tomorrow. K9 Dog and handlers are to be visible and up and doing.
“In addition, the OIC Opts team A & B and other essential operatives are to ensure regular patrol of the common users to ensure free flow of traffic and other encumbrances. No loitering, No hawking and no unauthorised parking.”
Reacting to the development, maritime security expert Irene Akpu described the visit by officials of the United States Coast Guard as a routine assessment aimed at evaluating Nigeria’s level of compliance with the ISPS Security Code.
She explained that the exercise is also intended to address concerns over port security and pave the way for the possible removal of the war risk premium imposed on Nigeria as a result of perceived lapses in port security arrangements.
