The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved a temporary measure allowing importers to process import documentation using expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control licences, providing short-term relief to businesses affected by ongoing changes in Nigeria’s trade processing systems.
In a circular dated January 26, 2026, and released by its Trade and Exchange Department, the apex bank announced that authorised dealer banks may continue to accept Form M applications backed by NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025.
The temporary approval takes immediate effect and will remain valid for two months, ending on February 28, 2026.
According to the circular, signed by Aliyu M. Ashiru on behalf of the department’s director, the dispensation follows a similar approval granted by NAFDAC to address disruptions arising from the transition away from the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II platform.
The CBN explained that importers have faced difficulties validating and renewing NAFDAC licences since the migration, particularly due to operational challenges encountered on the newly deployed B’Odogwu platform after December 2025.
“These challenges have hindered seamless Form M processing, prompting the need for a time-bound intervention to ensure continuity in trade transactions,” the bank said.
To ease documentation delays and prevent disruptions to legitimate imports, the CBN directed all authorised dealer banks to continue processing Form M applications with the affected licences strictly within the approved window.
The bank, however, emphasised that the measure is temporary and will automatically lapse at the end of February, urging banks and importers to comply fully with the outlined conditions.
It added that the intervention is designed to support trade flows while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the National Single Window.
Nigeria’s National Single Window, unveiled in October 2025, is a centralised digital platform aimed at harmonising trade documentation across government agencies. The initiative is expected to reduce delays, improve transparency, and enhance the country’s competitiveness in global trade.
The Federal Government has set March 2026 as the target date for the platform to become fully operational.
