The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing trade relations and driving economic growth through the implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy under the Standards Partnership Programme Phase II (SPP – Phase II). Launched in June 2024, this initiative aims to eliminate technical trade barriers, improve regulatory compliance, and boost export competitiveness, marking a significant step forward in the economic partnership between the two nations.
The SPP – Phase II is a collaborative effort between the British Standards Institution and Nigeria’s National Quality Council, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. The programme focuses on building a robust quality infrastructure to enhance standardisation, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing, and metrology services. These improvements are critical to boosting trade capacity, attracting investment, and aligning Nigerian products and services with global standards.
A key event under this initiative was the National Quality Policy Matrix Implementation Training-of-Trainers Workshop, held recently in Lagos and Abuja. The workshop brought together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to discuss capacity building for quality compliance and the 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, emphasised the importance of a strong National Quality Infrastructure for Nigeria’s economic diversification. “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 stated.
The Chairman of the National Quality Council, Osita Aboloma, highlighted the need for stakeholder collaboration to meet 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.
The workshop also focused on the role of data-driven quality policy implementation, with discussions emphasising the importance of metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessments in ensuring that Nigerian exports meet international standards. This alignment is expected to reduce rejections, enhance market access, and position Nigeria as a competitive player in global trade.
Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade, reiterated the UK’s support for Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy and improve trade. “Strengthening Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure will unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth in both nations,” Umukoro said.
The UK and Nigeria share a long-standing trade relationship, with Nigeria being the UK’s 38th trading partner. This collaboration aims to align industrial and machinery standards, improve regulatory cooperation, and support Nigeria’s role as a Digital Trade Champion under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
By fostering a stronger quality infrastructure and enhancing trade relations, the SPP – Phase II is set to drive economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen the naira, benefiting both nations. This partnership underscores the UK and Nigeria’s shared commitment to building a sustainable and prosperous economic future.
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