The Federal Government has banned the importation of poultry foods, cement, pharmaceutical and agricultural products from countries outside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to a circular by the federal ministry of finance, signed by Wale Edun, the minister of finance, dated April 1, 2026, the products are part of 17 items on a revised import prohibition list.
“Import Prohibition list (Trade), applicable only to certain goods originating from non-ECOWAS Member States. It consists of 17 items,” the circular reads.
The revised import prohibition list is part of the 2026 fiscal policy measures (FPM) and tariff amendments.
“In addition, a grace period of ninety (90) days, commencing from the effective date of implementation of this circular, i.e., 1st April 2026, shall be granted to all importers who had opened Form ‘M’ and must have entered into irrevocable Trade Agreement before the coming into effect of this circular, to process and clear their goods at the prevailing duty rates,” the circular reads.
“However, any new import transaction entered from the 1st of April 2026, shall be subjected to the new import duty regime.
“These Fiscal Policy Measures which supersede the 2023 Fiscal Policy Measures shall be published in the Official Federal Government Gazette.”
Below are list of the items on the revised import prohibition list:
(1). Live or dead birds, including frozen poultry
(2). Pork/beef, including tongues, livers, and shoulders of bovine animals
(3). Bird eggs, excluding hatching eggs of grand parent stock for breeding and research purposes
(4). Refined vegetable oil, excluding refined linseed, castor oil, olive oil, and hydrogenated vegetable fats, and crude vegetable oil
(5). Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form containing added flavouring or colouring matters
(6). Cocoa butter, powder and cakes, including fat and oil of cocoa and natural cocoa butter
(7). Tomatoes, whole or in pieces, tomato paste or concentrates
(8). Waters, including mineral waters and aerated waters, containing added sugar or sweetening matter or flavoured, once snow, as well as other non-alcoholic beverages
(9). Bagged cement
(10). Medicament (medicine) under several headings
(11). Waste pharmaceuticals
(12). Mineral or chemical fertilisers containing the three fertilising elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK)
(13). Soaps and detergents