Nigeria Bans Poultry, Cement, Pharma Imports from Non-ECOWAS Countries

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Nigeria Bans Poultry, Cement, Pharma Imports from Non-ECOWAS Countries

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a sweeping ban on the importation of poultry, cement, pharmaceutical products, and agricultural goods from countries outside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The directive, contained in a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance and signed by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, took effect from April 1, 2026, as part of the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM) and tariff amendments.

According to the circular, the restriction affects 17 items listed under a revised import prohibition list, which applies strictly to goods originating from non-ECOWAS countries.

Full List of Restricted Imports

The items affected by the Nigeria import ban include:

Live or frozen poultry
Pork and beef products
Bird eggs (except for breeding and research)
Refined vegetable oils (with specific exemptions)
Sugar and sucrose products
Cocoa butter, powder, and cakes
Tomatoes and processed tomato products
Sweetened and flavoured beverages
Bagged cement
Pharmaceutical products (medicaments)
Waste pharmaceuticals
Fertilisers (NPK)
Soaps and detergents
Corrugated paper, cartons, and packaging materials
Hollow glass bottles above 0.15 litres
Flat-rolled steel products
Ballpoint pens and parts

90-Day Grace Period for Importers

To ease the transition, the government approved a 90-day grace period beginning from April 1, 2026. Importers who had already opened Form ‘M’ and entered into irrevocable trade agreements before the policy took effect can clear their goods under the previous duty regime.

However, all new import transactions initiated after the effective date must comply with the updated import duty rules.

Additional Measures: 2% Green Tax on Vehicles

As part of the broader fiscal reforms, the government also introduced a 2 percent green tax surcharge on motor vehicles with engine capacities of:

2000cc to 3999cc
4000cc and above

This measure is aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and reducing emissions from high-capacity vehicles.

Why the Government Introduced the Ban

The Federal Government said the import prohibition policy is designed to:

Boost local production and manufacturing
Reduce dependence on foreign goods
Strengthen intra-ECOWAS trade
Protect Nigerian industries and create jobs

Officials also noted that the measures will help improve Nigeria’s economic self-reliance and support long-term industrial growth.

Economic Implications

While the policy is expected to stimulate domestic industries, experts warn it could lead to short-term price increases and supply gaps, especially in sectors reliant on imports.

The new measures replace the 2023 Fiscal Policy Measures and are expected to be published in the Official Federal Government Gazette.