The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved a two-month grace period allowing Authorised Dealer Banks (ADBs) to continue accepting expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licences for the processing of Forms M.
The approval was contained in a notice signed by Aliyu Ashiru, director of the Trade and Exchange Department at the apex bank.
Form M is an import processing document used by Nigerian importers to register goods intended for entry into the country.
Under the directive, all Authorised Dealer Banks are to accept NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025, solely for the purpose of processing Forms M, provided they comply with the conditions of the dispensation, which ends on February 28, 2026.
“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 notice stated.
Accordingly, the bank directed all Authorised Dealer Banks to continue accepting NAFDAC licences that expired on December 31, 2025, for Form M processing and ensure full compliance with the terms of the approval before its expiration on February 28, 2026.
The CBN added that the measure is intended to prevent disruptions to trade activities while NAFDAC completes the integration of its systems with the new national single window.
