The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the temporary use of expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licenses by importers for import documentation purposes.
In a circular issued on January 26, 2026, by its Trade and Exchange Department and published on the CBN website on Tuesday, the apex bank directed authorised dealer banks to continue processing Form M applications using NAFDAC licenses that expired on December 31, 2025.
The measure is intended to address operational challenges arising from the migration from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II platform. The approval takes effect immediately and will run for two months, ending on February 28, 2026.
The circular, signed by Aliyu M. Ashiru for the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, read in part: “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. This temporary dispensation will end on February 28, 2026.”
The apex bank said the approval follows a temporary dispensation granted by NAFDAC and applies strictly to Form M processing during the period.
According to the CBN, importers have faced difficulties validating or renewing NAFDAC licenses since the system transition, particularly due to challenges on the B’Odogwu platform after December 2025.
To ease bottlenecks and prevent delays in import documentation, the bank directed all authorised dealer banks to accept affected licenses within the approved window. The move is aimed at ensuring continuity in trade transactions while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the National Single Window.
The CBN stressed that the dispensation is time-bound and urged strict compliance, noting that it will lapse automatically on February 28, 2026.
