The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing trade and economic collaboration through the Standards Partnership Program (SPP) – Phase II. This initiative is part of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy (NNQP) and is designed to eliminate trade barriers, improve regulatory compliance, and enhance export competitiveness.
Launched in June 2024 during the African Organization for Standards (ARSO) General Assembly in Abuja, the program is backed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and is being implemented by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in partnership with Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC).
The initiative focuses on strengthening Nigeria’s quality infrastructure by improving standardization, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing, and metrology services. These measures are expected to boost exports between Nigeria and the UK, attract more foreign investments and also align Nigeria’s trade regulations with global standards
A critical milestone in implementing the NNQP was the Training-of-Trainers Workshop held in Lagos and Abuja, where stakeholders from the public and private sectors gathered to discuss quality compliance and the role of metrology in ensuring accurate measurement, calibration, and certification of goods.
During the workshop in Abuja, George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to a quality-driven economy, stating; “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.”
Similarly, Osita Aboloma, Chairman and Chief Executive of the NQC, highlighted the importance of stakeholder collaboration in achieving Nigeria’s trade and quality objectives. He noted that an improved quality infrastructure would strengthen Nigeria’s global trade position and support the government’s economic agenda.
On the UK’s side, Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade, reiterated the UK’s commitment to Nigeria’s economic diversification and trade expansion under the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP). “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,” he said.
Nigeria currently ranks as the UK’s 38th largest trading partner, and this collaboration aims to align industrial and machinery standards to facilitate trade between the two nations. The ETIP partnership also seeks to enhance regulatory cooperation between Nigeria and the UK, strengthen Nigeria’s role as a Digital Trade Champion under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as well as make good use of quality infrastructure to expand regional and global trade.
Since its launch, the SPP program has played a pivotal role in improving Nigeria’s trade competitiveness through legislative, standardization, and accreditation support. With the ongoing efforts of both governments and private sector stakeholders, this initiative is set to reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape, ensuring its products and services meet global standards.
