[JUST IN]: FG Bans Importation Of Cement, Others (FULL LIST)

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

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance and signed by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, dated April 1, 2026.

According to the circular, the affected goods are part of 17 items listed under a revised import prohibition list targeting products originating from non-ECOWAS member states.

The government explained that the updated list forms part of its 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM) and tariff amendments aimed at strengthening local production and regulating imports.

However, authorities granted a 90-day grace period, effective from April 1, 2026, for importers who had already initiated transactions. This applies to those who opened Form ‘M’ and entered into irrevocable trade agreements before the new policy took effect, allowing them to clear goods under the old duty rates.

The circular added that any new import transactions from April 1 onward would be subject to the revised import duty regime.

It further stated that the new fiscal policy measures will supersede the 2023 version and will be officially published in the Federal Government Gazette.

Full List Of Banned Items

The items affected by the import ban include:

• Live or dead birds, including frozen poultry
• Pork and beef (including organs)
• Bird eggs (with limited exceptions for breeding/research)
• Refined vegetable oil (excluding select types)
• Sugar with added flavouring or colouring
• Cocoa butter, powder, and related products
• Tomatoes and tomato paste
• Sweetened and flavoured beverages
• Bagged cement
• Medicaments (certain medicines)
• Waste pharmaceuticals
• NPK fertilisers
• Soaps and detergents
• Corrugated paper products (cartons, boxes)
• Large hollow glass bottles
• Flat-rolled steel products
• Ballpoint pens and parts

In addition, the government introduced a 2 percent green tax surcharge (excise duty) on motor vehicles with engine capacities ranging from 2009cc to above 4000cc.

The move comes amid broader fiscal reforms by the Federal Government, which also recently adjusted tariffs on selected items such as cars, palm oil, and sugar.