The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has accepted a short lived window permitting importers to make use of expired Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) licences for import documentation, extending aid to companies affected by ongoing system transitions in Nigeria’s commerce processing framework.
In a round issued on January 26, 2026, by the Commerce and Alternate Division and revealed on its web site on Tuesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria mentioned authorised seller banks might proceed processing Type M functions with NAFDAC licences that lapsed on December 31, 2025.
The approval runs for 2 months and can finish on February 28, 2026.
The round was signed by Aliyu M. Ashiru because the Director of the Commerce and Alternate Division.
What the round says
The round learn, “The Central Bank of Nigeria needs to inform all Authorised Sellers Banks (ADBs) and most people of a short lived dispensation supplied by the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) allowing the continued use of NAFDAC licenses that expired on thirty first December, 2025, for the processing of Varieties M for a two-month non permanent dispensation ending February 28, 2026.”
The apex bank mentioned the approval follows a short lived dispensation granted by the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management, allowing the continued use of the affected licences strictly for Type M processing in the course of the interval.
System transition behind the approval
The CBN defined that the measure was necessitated by operational challenges arising from the migration away from the legacy NICIS II platform.
- In line with the round, importers have been unable to validate or renew NAFDAC licences following the transition, notably as a result of difficulties encountered on the B’Odogwu platform after December 2025.
- To handle the bottlenecks and keep away from delays in import documentation, the CBN directed all authorised seller banks to proceed accepting the expired licences for Type M functions throughout the accepted window.
- The bank pressured that the dispensation is time-bound and urged banks to conform strictly with its phrases, noting that the approval will lapse robotically on February 28, 2026.
The CBN added that the transfer is geared toward making certain continuity in commerce transactions whereas NAFDAC finalises the mixing of its methods with the Nationwide Single Window.
What it is best to know
Type M is a compulsory digital import documentation platform in Nigeria used to seize particulars of products imported into the nation, serving as the premise for commerce monitoring, international change utilisation, and customs clearance.
It’s processed by way of authorised seller banks and linked to Nigeria Customs methods, making it central to import management, FX demand administration, and commerce information integrity.
- The platform helps regulators confirm product compliance, relevant licences equivalent to NAFDAC approvals, tariff classifications, and the legitimacy of import transactions earlier than items arrive in Nigeria.
- Oversight of Type M falls below the Central Bank of Nigeria, which regulates how international change is accessed for imports and units operational guidelines for authorised seller banks.
By Type M insurance policies, the CBN performs a direct function in managing Nigeria’s stability of funds, curbing trade-related FX leakages, and aligning imports with nationwide financial and regulatory priorities.
