The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced a temporary measure allowing importers to use expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control licenses for import documentation purposes. According to a circular issued on January 26, 2026, by the bank’s Trade and Exchange Department, authorised dealer banks can continue to process Form M applications with NAFDAC licenses that expired on December 31, 2025. This move is aimed at addressing operational challenges linked to the migration from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II platform.
The approval, which took effect immediately, will run for two months and lapse on February 28, 2026. The Central Bank of Nigeria explained that the measure was necessitated by difficulties encountered by importers in validating or renewing NAFDAC licenses since the transition to the new platform, particularly due to issues with the B’Odogwu platform after December 2025. To mitigate these challenges and prevent delays in import documentation, the bank has directed all authorised dealer banks to accept the affected licenses within the approved window.
The temporary dispensation granted by NAFDAC applies strictly to Form M processing during the specified period. The Central Bank of Nigeria stressed that the arrangement is time-bound and urged banks to comply strictly with its terms, noting that the approval would lapse automatically on February 28, 2026. This move is intended to ensure continuity in trade transactions while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the National Single Window.
The use of expired NAFDAC licenses is expected to ease the bottlenecks in import documentation and prevent delays. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision is seen as a pragmatic step to address the challenges faced by importers and ensure the smooth operation of trade transactions in the country. As the bank works to resolve the operational issues, importers can continue to use the expired licenses, providing a temporary solution to the problem. With the approval set to lapse on February 28, 2026, the Central Bank of Nigeria and NAFDAC are expected to work towards a permanent solution to the challenges faced by importers.
