March 04, (THEWILL) – The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and driving economic growth through the implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy (NNQP) under the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP) – Phase II.
With Nigeria ranking as the UK’s 38th largest trading partner, the SPP Phase II—launched in June 2024 with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) during the African Organisation for Standards (ARSO) General Assembly in Abuja—is designed to eliminate technical trade barriers, enhance regulatory compliance, and boost export competitiveness.
The programme, implemented by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in partnership with Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC) under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, seeks to establish a robust quality infrastructure system.
This will focus on standardisation, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing, and metrology services, ultimately improving trade efficiency, attracting investment, and aligning Nigerian exports with global standards.
At the NNQP Matrix Implementation Training-of-Trainers Workshop, held last week in Lagos and Abuja, public and private sector stakeholders discussed strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s quality compliance framework and the role of metrology in ensuring accurate measurement, calibration, and certification of goods.
Speaking in Abuja at the week-long workshop, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to quality-driven economic development.
“A strong National Quality Infrastructure is essential for Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda. Enhancing our standards, metrology, and accreditation systems will boost non-oil exports, create jobs, and strengthen the naira. This partnership with the UK is a significant step in achieving these goals,”he said.
Echoing this, Chairman and Chief Executive of the NQC, Osita Aboloma, underscored the importance of stakeholder collaboration in achieving Nigeria’s trade and quality objectives.
“An effective quality infrastructure will not only support the Federal Government’s economic agenda but also enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian products and services in global markets,” he stated.
Discussions at the event highlighted the role of metrology, accreditation, conformity assessments, inspections, and testing in ensuring Nigerian exports meet international standards, thereby reducing rejections and improving market access.
Also speaking, Dr. Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade, reiterated Britain’s support for Nigeria’s economic diversification and trade expansion efforts under the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP).
“The UK and Nigeria remain strategic trade and investment partners. By strengthening Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure, we are unlocking new opportunities to drive innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth for both nations,” Umukoro noted.
THEWILL reports that the UK-Nigeria collaboration aims to enhance exports by aligning industrial and machinery standards, improving regulatory cooperation under ETIP, and positioning Nigeria as a Digital Trade Champion under AfCFTA, leveraging quality infrastructure to expand regional and global trade.
Since its launch, the SPP programme has significantly bolstered Nigeria’s quality infrastructure ecosystem through legislative, standardisation, and accreditation reforms. As the initiative progresses, both nations remain committed to advancing trade competitiveness, regulatory efficiency, and industrial growth, setting the stage for sustained economic prosperity.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
