The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations and driving economic growth through the implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy under the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP) – Phase II. This was announced in a statement from the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos on Monday.
Launched in June 2024, SPP – Phase II is designed to address technical trade barriers, enhance regulatory compliance, and promote export competitiveness between the two nations. The programme is a joint effort between the British Standards Institution and Nigeria’s National Quality Council, with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The initiative focuses on developing a robust quality infrastructure that will improve standardization, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing, and metrology services. These improvements are crucial for boosting trade capacity, attracting investment, and aligning with global standards.
A key event within the initiative was the National Quality Policy Matrix Implementation Training-of-Trainers Workshop, held in Lagos and Abuja last week. The workshop brought together stakeholders from both public and private sectors to discuss capacity building for quality compliance and the vital role of metrology in ensuring accurate measurements, calibrations, and certifications of goods.
In his keynote address at the Abuja event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, emphasized the importance of a strong National Quality Infrastructure for Nigeria’s economic diversification. He pointed out that enhancing systems related to standards, metrology, and accreditation would contribute to boosting non-oil exports, creating jobs, and strengthening the naira.
The Chairman of the National Quality Council, Osita Aboloma, expressed support for the programme, underscoring the need for collaboration among stakeholders to achieve Nigeria’s quality and trade objectives. Aboloma added that an effective quality infrastructure would not only support the government’s economic goals but also improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in global markets.
A significant focus of the workshop was on data-driven quality policy implementation, with discussions centered on the importance of metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessments in ensuring Nigerian exports meet international standards, thereby reducing rejections and improving market access.
Simeon Umukoro, the Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade, reiterated the UK’s ongoing support for Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy and enhance trade. He stated that strengthening Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure would open new opportunities for innovation and growth in both countries.
The UK and Nigeria share a long-standing trade relationship, with Nigeria ranking as the UK’s 38th largest trading partner. This collaboration seeks to align industrial and machinery standards, enhance regulatory cooperation, and support Nigeria’s role as a Digital Trade Champion under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
