The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved a temporary window allowing importers to use expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licences for import documentation, providing short-term relief to businesses affected by recent system changes in Nigeria’s trade processing framework.
In a circular issued on January 26, 2026, by its Trade and Exchange Department and published on the bank’s website on Tuesday, the apex bank said authorised dealer banks may continue to process Form M applications with NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025.
According to the CBN, the approval takes immediate effect and will run for two months, expiring on February 28, 2026.
The circular, signed by Aliyu M. Ashiru on behalf of the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, stated, “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 bank explained that the approval followed a temporary dispensation granted by NAFDAC and applies strictly to Form M processing within the approved period. It noted that the measure was necessitated by operational challenges arising from the migration from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II platform.
According to the CBN, many importers have been unable to validate or renew their NAFDAC licences since the transition, particularly due to difficulties encountered on the B’Odogwu platform after December 2025.
To minimise disruptions and prevent delays in import documentation, the apex bank directed all authorised dealer banks to continue accepting the affected licences during the temporary window.
The CBN stressed that the arrangement is time-bound and urged banks to comply strictly with the stated conditions, noting that the approval would lapse automatically on February 28, 2026. It added that the move is intended to ensure continuity in trade transactions while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the National Single Window.
In October 2025, the Federal Government announced a major step toward digitalising and streamlining Nigeria’s import and export processes with the formal unveiling of the National Single Window and a new Trade Facilitation Portal.
The initiative, championed by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, is expected to reduce bureaucracy, enhance transparency, and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
The National Single Window is designed as a centralised digital platform through which all stakeholders—including customs and regulatory agencies, importers, and exporters—can submit standardised trade and regulatory documentation. The Federal Government has set a target for the platform to become fully operational by the first quarter of 2026, specifically March 2026.
