The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations and fostering economic growth by implementing Nigeria’s National Quality Policy (NNQP) under the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP) Phase II. This initiative aims to eliminate technical trade barriers, improve regulatory compliance, and enhance export competitiveness between the two nations.
Launch of SPP Phase II
Launched in June 2024 during the African Organisation for Standards (ARSO) General Assembly in Abuja, the SPP Phase II is supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The programme is a collaborative effort between the British Standards Institution (BSI) and Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC), operating under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The primary objective is to build a robust quality infrastructure focusing on standardisation, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing, and metrology services. These components are essential for boosting export capacity, attracting investment, and aligning with global standards.
Training-of-Trainers Workshops
As part of the NNQP implementation, Training-of-Trainers workshops were held in Lagos and Abuja, bringing together stakeholders from both public and private sectors. The workshops focused on capacity building for quality compliance and the critical role of metrology in ensuring accurate measurements, calibrations, and certifications of goods. Participants discussed strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s quality infrastructure and explored ways to improve standardisation processes.
Keynote Address by Senator George Akume
In his keynote address at the Abuja workshop, 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. He highlighted that improving systems related to standards, metrology, and accreditation would boost non-oil exports, create jobs, and strengthen the naira. Akume stated, “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.”
Remarks by NQC Chairman Osita Aboloma
Osita Aboloma, Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Quality Council, welcomed the initiative and emphasised the need for stakeholder collaboration to meet Nigeria’s quality and trade objectives. He noted that an effective quality infrastructure would support the government’s economic agenda and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian products and services in global markets. Aboloma added, “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.”
Role of Data-Driven Quality Policy Implementation
The workshops also highlighted the importance of data-driven quality policy implementation, focusing on the role of metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessments. These elements are crucial in ensuring that Nigerian exports meet international standards, reducing rejections, and improving market access. By strengthening these areas, Nigeria aims to enhance the global competitiveness of its products and services.
UK’s Support for Nigeria’s Economic Diversification
Dr. Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade, reiterated the UK’s unwavering support for Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy and improve trade. He stated that strengthening Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure would unlock new opportunities for innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth for both nations. Umukoro remarked, “The UK and Nigeria remain strategic partners in trade and investment. By improving Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure, we are unlocking new opportunities to drive innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth for both nations.”
Significance of the Collaboration
This collaboration between the UK and Nigeria is significant as it aligns industrial and machinery standards, improves regulatory cooperation under the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), and supports Nigeria’s role as a Digital Trade Champion under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By leveraging quality infrastructure, Nigeria aims to expand its regional and global trade, thereby fostering economic growth and development.
Conclusion
The implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy under the Standards Partnership Programme Phase II marks a pivotal step towards enhancing trade relations and economic growth between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Through collaborative efforts to strengthen quality infrastructure, both nations aim to eliminate technical trade barriers, improve regulatory compliance, and boost export competitiveness, thereby achieving shared economic objectives.
