The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the temporary use of expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licenses for import documentation purposes, the apex bank announced.
A circular issued on January 26, 2026, by the CBN’s Trade and Exchange Department, and published on the bank’s website on Tuesday, stated that authorised dealer banks may continue processing Form M applications with NAFDAC licenses that expired on December 31, 2025.
The temporary dispensation, which takes effect immediately, will run for two months and end on February 28, 2026.
Signed by Aliyu M. Ashiru for the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, the circular 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 CBN explained that the measure was necessitated by operational challenges linked to the migration from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II platform.
Importers have faced difficulties validating or renewing NAFDAC licenses on the B’Odogwu platform since December 2025.
The bank directed authorised dealer banks to accept the affected licenses within the approved window to prevent delays in import documentation and ensure continuity in trade transactions while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the National Single Window.
The apex bank emphasised that the arrangement is strictly time-bound and will automatically lapse on February 28, 2026. Banks are expected to comply fully with the terms of the dispensation.
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