The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted a temporary window allowing businesses to use expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licences for import documentation, offering short-term relief to importers affected by ongoing changes in the country’s trade processing system.
In a circular issued on January 26, 2026, the CBN’s Trade and Exchange Department announced that authorised dealer banks could continue processing Form M applications using NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025. This temporary dispensation will be effective immediately and will last for two months, expiring on February 28, 2026.
The circular, signed by Aliyu M. Ashiru for the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, states: “The Central Bank of Nigeria wishes to notify all Authorised Dealer Banks and the general public of a temporary dispensation offered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control permitting the continued use of NAFDAC licences that expired on 31st December 2025 for the processing of Forms M for a two-month temporary dispensation ending February 28, 2026.”
The CBN explained that the approval is a result of operational challenges faced during the migration from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II platform, which has hindered importers’ ability to validate or renew NAFDAC licences since December 2025. Notably, the B’Odogwu platform has encountered difficulties post-2025, further complicating licence renewals.
To mitigate delays and ease bottlenecks in import documentation, the CBN has instructed all authorised dealer banks to accept the expired licences within the approved window. However, it stressed that the approval is time-bound and will automatically expire on February 28, 2026. The measure aims to ensure seamless trade transactions while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the National Single Window.
This temporary approval comes as part of the ongoing efforts to streamline Nigeria’s trade processes. In October 2025, the government unveiled the National Single Window initiative, a centralized digital platform designed to improve efficiency in import and export procedures, reduce bureaucratic delays, and enhance transparency. The platform, championed by Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, is expected to become fully operational by March 2026.
