NAFDAC Extends Importers’ Expired 2025 Licences To May 31 To Ease Port Congestion

Following delays linked to the migration to the National Single Window (NSW) platform, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has extended the validity of expired 2025 e-licences to ease mounting congestion at the nation’s seaports.

The director general of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, stated on Thursday that the extension was part of a package of interventions approved by management to address bottlenecks in the processing of Licences, Permits, Certificates and Other Approvals (LPCOs), which have slowed cargo clearance and worsened port congestion.

Adeyeye explained that all 2025 e-licences that expired on December 31, 2025, and were previously utilised on the Ports Inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PIDCARMS), have now been extended to May 31, 2026.

She said the decision was taken after extensive engagement with the NSW Secretariat and stakeholders, who had raised concerns over delays in obtaining approvals and the resulting backlog of consignments at the ports.

According to her, “This measure is aimed at providing immediate relief to stakeholders and preventing further disruption to legitimate trade activities.”

The agency also introduced special consideration for importers whose approved quotas have been exhausted but who already have consignments at the ports.

Such importers, NAFDAC said, would be allowed to process their goods upon submission of verifiable shipping documents, including bills of lading.

To support this process, the agency disclosed that a dedicated fast-track helpdesk and email channel would be established to handle affected cases and accelerate approvals.

In addition, NAFDAC announced the implementation of conditional release procedures for consignments with minor documentation gaps, provided no significant regulatory risks are identified.

The agency noted that while such consignments may be released to ease congestion, appropriate administrative measures would be applied where necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Industry stakeholders have repeatedly raised concerns about delays in NSW migration, which disrupted LPCO processing and contributed to a build-up of cargo at major ports, increasing demurrage costs and slowing supply chains.

NAFDAC expressed confidence that the new measures would improve processing timelines, decongest the ports, and enhance the overall efficiency of regulatory operations on the NSW platform.

The agency also called for continued stakeholder cooperation to ensure a smoother transition and a more responsive trade facilitation system.