Breaking: FG bans importation of cement, poultry feed, pharmaceuticals, others from non-ECOWAS countries
The federal government has banned the importation of poultry feed, cement, pharmaceutical products, and several other goods from countries outside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The directive was contained in a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, dated April 1, 2026, and signed by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.
According to the circular, the affected products are among 17 items listed under a revised import prohibition schedule.
The circular stated:
“Import Prohibition List (Trade), applicable only to certain goods originating from non-ECOWAS Member States. It consists of 17 items.”
The revised prohibition list forms part of the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM) and tariff amendments.
The government also granted a 90-day grace period, effective from April 1, 2026, for importers who had already opened Form M and entered into irrevocable trade agreements before the new policy took effect. Such importers will be allowed to clear their goods at the existing duty rates.
However, all new import transactions initiated from April 1, 2026, will be subject to the new import duty regime.
The circular added that the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures supersede the 2023 measures and will be published in the Official Federal Government Gazette.
Items on the revised import prohibition list:
- Live or dead birds, including frozen poultry
- Pork and beef, including tongues, livers, and shoulders of bovine animals
- Bird eggs, excluding hatching eggs for breeding and research purposes
- Refined vegetable oil (excluding linseed, castor, olive oil, hydrogenated vegetable fats, and crude vegetable oil)
- Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form with added flavouring or colouring
- Cocoa butter, powder, cakes, fats, and oils
- Tomatoes, including whole tomatoes, paste, and concentrates
- Sweetened or flavoured waters, mineral waters, aerated drinks, and other non-alcoholic beverages
- Bagged cement
- Medicaments under several tariff headings
- Waste pharmaceuticals
- NPK fertilisers
- Soaps and detergents
- Corrugated paper, paperboards, cartons, boxes, and cases
- Hollow glass bottles above 150ml capacity, including carboys, bottles, and flasks
- Corrugated flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products, 600mm or wider, clad, plated, or coated
- Ballpoint pens and parts, including refills (excluding tips)
Green tax introduced on vehicles
The federal government also introduced a 2 percent green tax surcharge or excise duty on motor vehicles with engine capacities between 2009cc and 3999cc, as well as vehicles with engines of 4000cc and above.
Earlier, on April 17, TheCable reported that the government had reduced tariffs on cars, palm oil, and sugar under the new fiscal policy measures.