The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the use of expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licences for import documentation temporarily, following disruptions caused by migration to the new trade facilitation platform.

The apex bank’s directive, contained in a circular dated January 26, 2026, and published on its website on Tuesday night, permits authorised dealer banks to process Form M applications with NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31 till February 28, 2026.

The circular, signed by the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, Aliyu Ashiru, said the temporary dispensation was necessitated by operational challenges importers have faced since the transition from the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II) platform.

“The CBN wishes to notify all authorised dealer banks and the general public of a temporary dispensation offered by NAFDAC, permitting the continued use of NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025, for the processing of Forms M,” the circular read.

It noted that importers have been unable to validate or renew their NAFDAC licences following difficulties encountered on the B’Odogwu platform after December 2025, effectively stalling trade documentation and import clearance processes.

The CBN explained that the measure was designed to ensure continuity in trade transactions while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the National Single Window (NSW), the Federal Government’s unified digital platform for trade documentation.

The Central Bank directed all authorised dealer banks to comply strictly with the terms of the waiver, emphasising that the arrangement is time-bound and will automatically lapse on the stipulated date.

The development comes months after the Federal Government announced the formal unveiling of the National Single Window (NSW) and a new trade facilitation portal in October 2025, aimed at digitalising and streamlining Nigeria’s import and export processes.

The National Single Window is a centralised digital platform where customs, regulatory agencies, importers, and exporters can submit standardised trade and regulatory documentation through a single portal.