The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the temporary use of expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licences by importers for import documentation purposes.
In a circular dated January 26, 2026, issued by the apex bank’s Trade and Exchange Department and published on its website on Tuesday, the CBN announced that authorised dealer banks may continue to process Form M applications using NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025.
The bank explained that the decision was prompted by operational challenges linked to the migration from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II platform.
According to the circular, the temporary approval takes immediate effect and will remain valid for two months, expiring on February 28, 2026.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria hereby notifies all Authorised Dealer Banks and the general public of a temporary dispensation granted by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, permitting the continued use of NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025, for the processing of Forms M for a two-month period ending February 28, 2026,” the circular, signed by Aliyu M. Ashiru on behalf of the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, stated.
The CBN clarified that the approval follows a temporary waiver granted by NAFDAC and applies strictly to Form M processing within the approved period.
It noted that many importers have been unable to validate or renew their licences due to system transition issues, particularly challenges encountered on the B’Odogwu platform after December 2025.
To ease these bottlenecks and prevent delays in import documentation, the apex bank directed all authorised dealer banks to accept the affected licences during the two-month window.
The CBN added that the measure is aimed at ensuring continuity in trade transactions while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the National Single Window, stressing that the approval is time-bound and will automatically lapse on February 28, 2026.
