The United Kingdom and Nigeria, reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral trade relations and fostering economic growth through the implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy under the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP) Phase II.
A statement released by the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos on Monday highlighted the launch of the SPP – Phase II in June 2024.
The programme aims to eliminate technical trade barriers, enhance regulatory compliance, and promote export competitiveness between the two nations.
This initiative is a collaborative effort involving the British Standards Institution and Nigeria’s National Quality Council, with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The programme focuses on building a robust quality infrastructure to improve key areas such as standardisation, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing, and metrology services, all essential for boosting trade capacity, attracting investment, and aligning with global standards.
A significant event in this initiative was the National Quality Policy Matrix Implementation Training-of-Trainers Workshop, held last week in Lagos and Abuja.
The workshop gathered stakeholders from both the 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 critical importance of a robust National Quality Infrastructure in supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.
Akume stressed that improving standards, metrology, and accreditation systems would not only boost non-oil exports but also create jobs and strengthen the naira.
“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.
Osita Aboloma, Chairman of the National Quality Council, welcomed the programme and underscored the necessity for stakeholder collaboration in meeting Nigeria’s quality and trade objectives.
He added that an effective quality infrastructure would not only support the government’s economic agenda but also enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global markets.
“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 noted.
Data-driven quality policy implementation was another key discussion topic at the workshop.
Stakeholders highlighted the importance of metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessments in ensuring that Nigerian exports meet international standards, thereby reducing rejections and enhancing market access.
Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade, reaffirmed the UK’s ongoing support for Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy and improve trade.
He emphasized that strengthening Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure would open up new opportunities for innovation and growth in both countries.
The longstanding trade relationship between the UK and Nigeria, with Nigeria currently ranked as the UK’s 38th largest trading partner, forms the foundation of this collaboration.
The initiative 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.
This strategic partnership between the UK and Nigeria represents a significant step in advancing both nation’s economic objectives, improving trade relations, and fostering a more competitive, sustainable future for Nigerian exports on the global stage.
