The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved a temporary measure allowing importers to use expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licences for import documentation, offering short-term relief to businesses affected by recent system changes in Nigeria’s trade processing framework.
In a circular issued on January 26, 2026, the CBN said authorised dealer banks may continue to process Form M applications using NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025. The dispensation takes effect immediately and will run for two months, ending on February 28, 2026.
The circular, signed by Aliyu M. Ashiru for the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, explained that the approval follows a temporary dispensation granted by NAFDAC and applies strictly to Form M processing. The move addresses operational challenges linked to the migration from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II platform.
The apex bank noted that importers have struggled to validate or renew NAFDAC licences since the transition, particularly due to issues on the B’Odogwu platform after December 2025. To prevent delays in import documentation, authorised dealer banks are directed to accept the affected licences within the approved window. The CBN emphasised that the measure is time-bound and will lapse automatically on February 28, 2026.
The temporary approval ensures continuity in trade transactions while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the National Single Window. Launched in October 2025, the National Single Window and the Trade Facilitation Portal aim to digitalise and streamline Nigeria’s import and export processes, reduce bureaucracy, enhance transparency, and improve the country’s global trade competitiveness. The government targets full operationalisation of the platform by March 2026.
