The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reinforced their commitment to deepening trade relations and fostering economic growth through the implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy under the Standards Partnership Programme – Phase II.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos on Monday.
Launched in June 2024, the SPP – Phase II is designed to address technical trade barriers, enhance regulatory compliance, and improve export competitiveness between both countries.
The programme is a joint effort involving the British Standards Institution and Nigeria’s National Quality Council, with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Enhancing Nigeria’s Trade Competitiveness
A core objective of this initiative is the establishment of a strong quality infrastructure to improve standardisation, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing, and metrology services.
These elements are crucial for strengthening Nigeria’s trade capacity, attracting investment, and aligning with international trade standards.
As part of the programme’s implementation, a National Quality Policy Matrix Implementation Training-of-Trainers Workshop was held in Lagos and Abuja last week.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to focus on quality compliance capacity building and the role of metrology in ensuring accurate measurements, calibrations, and certifications of goods.
Key Stakeholders Highlight the Importance of Quality Standards
Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, emphasised the critical role of a well-established National Quality Infrastructure in Nigeria’s economic diversification strategy.
“A strong National Quality Infrastructure is essential for Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda. Improving our standards, metrology, and accreditation systems can boost non-oil exports, create jobs, and strengthen the naira. This partnership with the UK is a major step forward in achieving these goals,” Akume said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the National Quality Council, Osita Aboloma, welcomed the programme, stressing the need for collaboration among stakeholders to achieve Nigeria’s quality and trade 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,” Aboloma added.
Driving Innovation and Expanding Market Access
Another major topic of discussion at the workshop was the role of data-driven quality policy implementation.
Experts deliberated on the significance of metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessments in ensuring Nigerian exports meet international standards, reducing product rejections, and improving global market access.
Simeon Umukoro, the Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade, reaffirmed the UK’s support for Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.
He noted that strengthening Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure would unlock new opportunities for innovation and economic expansion.
The UK and Nigeria have long maintained a strong trade relationship, with Nigeria ranking as the UK’s 38th largest trading partner.
This ongoing collaboration is focused on aligning industrial and machinery standards, enhancing regulatory cooperation, and positioning Nigeria as a Digital Trade Champion under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
