CBN to Banks —Accept expired NAFDAC licences for two months

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved a two-month temporary dispensation permitting authorised dealer banks to continue accepting expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control licences for import processing.

The approval allows banks to process Forms M using NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025, up until February 28, 2026.

Form M is a mandatory import document used by importers to register goods intended for shipment into Nigeria.

The apex bank disclosed this in a circular issued on Monday and signed by the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, Aliyu Ashiru.

According to the CBN, the temporary measure became necessary following challenges arising from the transition from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II to the new B’Odogwu platform.

The bank noted that importers have been unable to validate or renew their NAFDAC licences on the B’Odogwu system since December 2025.

“The temporary dispensation has become necessary due to the transition from the legacy NICIS II system and the inability of importers to validate or renew NAFDAC licences on B’Odogwu after December 2025,” the circular read.

The CBN directed all authorised dealer banks to continue accepting NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025, strictly for the purpose of processing Forms M.

It also cautioned banks to ensure full compliance with the terms of the approval, stressing that the dispensation will lapse on February 28, 2026.

The apex bank explained that the decision was taken to prevent disruptions to import and trade processes while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the national single window platform.

The CBN assured stakeholders that further guidance would be issued as the integration process progresses.