CBN Approves Temporary Use of Expired NAFDAC Licences for Imports

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the temporary use of expired National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licences for the importation of regulated products, in a move aimed at easing bottlenecks in trade and preventing supply disruptions.

The apex bank disclosed the decision in a circular to authorised dealers, explaining that the measure is interim and designed to support importers facing delays arising from the ongoing transition and renewal processes at NAFDAC. According to the CBN, the approval applies strictly under clearly defined conditions and does not replace existing regulatory requirements.

Under the arrangement, importers may process eligible transactions using recently expired NAFDAC licences, provided evidence of renewal or revalidation has been submitted to the appropriate regulatory authority. The CBN stressed that only licences that expired within an approved grace period would be considered, while all other documentation requirements must still be met.

The bank noted that the decision was taken after consultations with relevant stakeholders to address challenges affecting the importation of food, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, chemicals and other regulated items. It said prolonged delays had begun to impact supply chains, pricing and availability of essential goods in the domestic market.

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“The approval is a temporary facilitation measure to prevent unnecessary disruption to legitimate trade while regulatory processes are being concluded,” the CBN said. It added that the concession would be reviewed periodically and withdrawn once normal licensing operations stabilise.

Authorised dealers were directed to ensure strict compliance with the outlined guidelines, including proper documentation, risk assessment and post-importation verification. The CBN warned that any abuse of the concession would attract sanctions, stressing that the integrity of the import process must be maintained.

Industry stakeholders welcomed the move, describing it as a practical step to reduce delays at ports and warehouses. Some importers, however, urged both the CBN and NAFDAC to work towards faster, fully digitised licensing systems to prevent a recurrence of similar challenges.

NAFDAC, on its part, has continued to emphasise that product safety and quality assurance remain paramount, assuring the public that the temporary measure would not compromise regulatory standards.

The development comes amid broader efforts by the CBN to streamline trade documentation, improve ease of doing business, and support price stability by addressing supply-side constraints in the economy.