The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the temporary use of expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licences for import documentation.
In a circular issued on Tuesday and signed by the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, Aliyu Ashiru, the apex bank asked authorised dealer banks to continue to process Form M applications using NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025.
The approval takes immediate effect and will remain valid until February 28, 2026.
“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 stated.
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According to CBN, the approval follows a temporary dispensation granted by NAFDAC and applies strictly to Form M processing within the approved period.
It explained that the measure was necessitated by operational challenges arising from the migration from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II platform.
The CBN noted that 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.
To ease the bottlenecks and prevent delays in import documentation, the apex bank directed all authorised dealer banks to continue accepting the affected licences during the approved window.
It stressed that the arrangement is time-bound and urged banks to comply strictly with its terms, adding 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.
Pinnacle Daily reports that the Federal Government had in October 2025 unveiled the National Single Window and a Trade Facilitation Portal to digitise Nigeria’s import and export processes.
Led by Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, the initiative is aimed at reducing bureaucracy, enhancing transparency, and improving trade competitiveness.
The National Single Window will serve as a central digital platform for submitting trade documentation, with full operation targeted for March 2026.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X
