FG Prohibits Importation Of Cement And Other Items (See Full List)

The Federal Government has announced a comprehensive ban on the importation of several goods, including poultry products, cement, pharmaceuticals, and selected agricultural commodities from countries outside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

According to a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance and signed by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, the directive, dated April 1, 2026, introduces a revised import prohibition list covering 17 categories of items. The document stated that the restriction applies strictly to goods originating from non-ECOWAS member states.

The circular explained that the new policy forms part of the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures and tariff adjustments, which replace the 2023 framework. It further disclosed that importers who had already commenced transactions prior to the implementation date would be granted a 90-day grace period, provided they had opened Form “M” and entered into binding trade agreements before the policy took effect.

However, the Ministry clarified that all new import transactions initiated from April 1, 2026, would automatically fall under the updated import duty regime.

Items affected by the prohibition include live and frozen poultry, beef and pork products, bird eggs (with limited exemptions), refined vegetable oil, sugar, cocoa-based products, tomatoes, non-alcoholic beverages, bagged cement, select pharmaceutical products, fertilisers, soaps and detergents, paper materials, glass bottles, steel products, as well as ballpoint pens and their components.

In addition, the Federal Government introduced a two per cent green tax surcharge on motor vehicles, applicable to vehicles with engine capacities ranging from 2009cc to above 4000cc. The Ministry noted that the full details of the fiscal measures would be published in the Official Federal Government Gazette.