Federal Government Unveils Revised Import Prohibition List with Cement and Fertiliser Included
The Nigerian government has officially updated its list of items prohibited from importation into the country, with cement, fertiliser, and 15 other goods prominently featured. This significant development was announced through a circular issued by the Ministry of Finance, signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, following presidential approval of the 2026 fiscal policy measures.
Implementation Timeline and ECOWAS Compliance
The document clearly states that these revised measures became effective from April 1, 2026, operating under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff guidelines. The circular explicitly confirms: "This is to confirm that His Excellency, Mr President, has approved the implementation of the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures made up of Supplementary Protection Measures (SPM)... with effect from 1st April 2026."
The ministry emphasized that this prohibition list specifically applies to goods originating from non-ECOWAS countries and represents a crucial component of broader trade protection measures. According to the official document: "The approved SPM, in line with the provision of the ECOWAS CET, comprises... Import Prohibition list (Trade), applicable only to certain goods originating from non-ECOWAS Member States. It consists of 17 items."
Comprehensive List of Prohibited Import Items
Based on detailed reports from Punch newspaper, the complete list of banned categories includes:
- Frozen poultry, pork, beef and other meat products including carcasses, cuts, offal, tongues and livers
- Bird eggs, excluding those specifically designated for breeding and research purposes
- Refined vegetable oils, with exceptions for specific categories like linseed, castor and olive oil
- Cane or beet sugar in retail packaging; cocoa butter, cocoa powder and related cocoa preparations
- Tomatoes, whether fresh, in pieces or processed into paste and concentrates
- Waters, including mineral and aerated drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages containing sweetening matter
- Bagged cement across all specifications
- Medicaments spanning multiple pharmaceutical classifications
- Waste pharmaceutical products
- Mineral and chemical fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
- Soaps and detergents of various types
- Corrugated paper, paperboard, and cartons
- Hollow glass bottles exceeding 150 millilitres capacity
- Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products
- Ballpoint pens and their component parts, including refills
Alignment with African Continental Free Trade Area Commitments
The circular further reveals that Import Adjustment Taxes on 192 tariff items have been introduced, with these levies scheduled for gradual phasing out in accordance with Nigeria's commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Specifically, beginning January 2027, all Import Adjustment Taxes—excluding products on the AfCTA 3 percent list—will be systematically reduced on an annual basis until complete elimination reaches zero percent by 2030.
The Nigerian government also announced that duties, including a green tax surcharge, will commence from July 1, 2026, with a generous 90-day grace period provided for compliance. The ministry clarified that importers with existing trade documentation dated before April 1, 2026, will be permitted to clear goods under the previous regime during this grace period, while all new transactions will automatically fall under the updated policy framework.
"However, any new import transaction entered from the 1st of April 2026 shall be subjected to the new import duty regime," the circular explicitly stated.
World Bank Opposition and Expert Recommendations
This comprehensive measure will replace the 2023 fiscal policy guidelines and will be formally published in the official gazette as the Nigerian government intensifies efforts to protect domestic industries and reduce national dependence on imports. However, reports indicate that the World Bank has urged Nigeria to reconsider import bans to foster a more competitive market environment.
The institution disclosed in its 2025 report on Nigeria that the country could potentially boost customs income by an impressive 66 percent if the Nigerian government eliminated arbitrary tariff deviations and import prohibitions. The World Bank directly linked current tariff policies to lost government revenue, stating that high tariffs and import bans represent major contributors to evasion practices and significant reductions in customs collections.
Industry experts predict that the list of prohibited import items will continue to expand, potentially including additional locally produced items, but they have specifically requested government reconsideration of certain items on the current list, particularly cement and fertiliser. These experts argue that Nigeria should license select importers to bring in cement to help reduce market prices for the essential construction material.
Regarding fertiliser, specialists emphasize that controlled importation could substantially boost agricultural productivity and enhance food production capacity across the country, addressing critical food security concerns.
Parallel Policy: Vehicle Import Tariff Reduction
In a related development, the federal government has simultaneously reduced import tariffs on fully built passenger vehicles from 70 percent to 40 percent under its 2026 fiscal policy measures. This strategic move aims to improve vehicle accessibility for Nigerian citizens. The policy, announced as part of the newly approved fiscal framework, applies comprehensively to fully assembled vehicles, including four-wheel drives and station wagons.
This significant automotive policy announcement was contained in an official statement by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), posted on the agency's website on Friday, April 17, 2026, demonstrating coordinated policy implementation across multiple economic sectors.
