The Nigerian National Accreditation System (NINAS) has secured international recognition, enabling locally certified products to be accepted in over 140 countries and positioning Nigeria as a continental leader in quality assurance. The milestone is expected to significantly reduce export rejections and save the economy millions of dollars in foreign exchange.
Certificates issued by NINAS-accredited laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification agencies will now carry globally trusted marks from the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, the International Accreditation Forum, and the African Accreditation Cooperation under their Mutual Recognition Arrangement. Only eight accreditation bodies worldwide have achieved this level of acceptance, highlighting Nigeria’s achievement.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, NINAS Director-General Celestine Okanya said the recognition addresses one of Nigeria’s biggest export challenges: the frequent rejection of goods, particularly food products, in Europe and America due to non-recognition of local testing. “Exporters using NINAS-accredited conformity assessment bodies can technically achieve zero rejection, as foreign authorities will accept their certificates without retesting or additional charges,” Okanya said.
The accreditation strengthens Nigeria’s national quality infrastructure, aligning domestic standards with global requirements and facilitating smoother access to international markets, including under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Exporters in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and food processing are expected to benefit most, with faster customs clearance, fewer compliance barriers, and lower operational costs.’
UK trade officials hailed the milestone as a major boost for Nigeria’s export potential. Hannah Barbosa, Director for Trade Policy and Market Access (Africa Region), said it would reduce technical trade barriers, enhance investor confidence, and open new market opportunities. UK Country Director Mark Smithson added that Nigerian goods would now move more freely through UK customs, avoiding delays, duplicative testing, and repeated rejections.
Acting Chair of the NINAS Board, Adamu Dahiru, highlighted the challenges the agency overcame, including periods of no funding and limited government support. He urged the federal government to ensure sustainable funding for NINAS and the National Quality Council to maintain the country’s competitive edge.
Chairman of the National Quality Council, Osita Aboloma, emphasised the cost savings for exporters, noting that millions previously spent on overseas compliance testing can now be retained locally. “This is a sure pathway to increased global competitiveness and job creation. It eliminates duplicate assessments abroad and saves foreign exchange,” he said.
The recognition also strengthens Nigeria’s role in Africa, following the African Organisation for Standardisation’s recent MoU that designates NINAS as a continental accreditation enabler under the AfCFTA dual quality mark. This development positions Nigeria as a key player in harmonising standards across Africa’s 1.4 billion-person free trade area.
With persistent export rejects historically undermining buyer confidence, the new accreditation is a significant step toward restoring trust in Nigerian goods, boosting MSME exports, and supporting the country’s broader economic diversification agenda under President Bola Tinubu.
