The Federal Government has announced a ban on the importation of cement, poultry products, pharmaceuticals, and selected agricultural goods from countries outside the Economic Community of West African States.
The directive, contained in a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, forms part of the 2026 fiscal policy measures and revised tariff framework aimed at strengthening regional trade.
The circular, dated April 1, 2026, and signed by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, confirmed that the affected items are included in a 17-product import prohibition list targeting goods originating from non-ECOWAS member states.
According to the ministry, the policy is designed to promote intra-regional trade, support local industries, and reduce dependence on imports from outside the West African bloc.
The government, however, introduced a 90-day grace period for importers who had already initiated transactions before the policy took effect.
The circular stated that importers who had opened Form ‘M’ and entered into irrevocable trade agreements before April 1 would be allowed to complete and clear their shipments within the stipulated period.
The move signals a renewed push by the government to prioritise domestic production and regional economic integration under ECOWAS trade frameworks.
Industry stakeholders are expected to closely monitor the impact of the policy on supply chains, pricing, and local manufacturing capacity in the coming months.
