The United States Coast Guard is currently in Lagos conducting port security assessments.

The team is evaluating selected port facilities for compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

Sources close to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency disclosed that the team is scheduled to visit Tin-Can Island Port today as part of the inspection.

The week-long exercise will conclude on Friday, March 6, 2026.

According to a memo sighted by our correspondent, one of the key objectives of the visit is to assess ISPS Code compliance within ports and facilities, with a view to lifting the Condition of Entry imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria.

The memo further stated that the team will access the port through Abuja Gate or the First Gate to TICT and exit through the Second Gate.

Officers in charge of the designated entry and exit points have been directed to intensify access control measures.

K9 units and handlers are to maintain a visible presence, while operations teams are to conduct regular patrols to ensure free traffic flow and eliminate encumbrances, including loitering, hawking, and unauthorized 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 Code.

She added that the exercise is expected to address concerns over port security and pave the way for the possible removal of the war risk premium imposed on Nigeria due to perceived lapses in port security arrangements.