CBN approves temporary use of expired NAFDAC licences for imports

The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved a temporary window allowing importers to use expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control licences for import documentation, offering short-term relief to businesses affected by 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 CBN said authorised dealer banks may continue to process Form M applications with NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025.

The approval, which takes effect immediately, will run for two months and lapse on February 28, 2026.

The circular, signed by Aliyu M. Ashiru for the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, read, “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 apex bank explained that the approval followed a temporary dispensation granted by NAFDAC and applies strictly to Form M processing during the period. It said the measure was necessitated by operational challenges linked to the migration from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II platform.

According to the CBN, importers have been unable to validate or renew NAFDAC licences since the transition, particularly due to difficulties encountered on the B’Odogwu platform after December 2025.