Nigeria’s export sector received a significant boost on Thursday with the official unveiling of Phase III of the UK-Nigeria Standards Partnership Program, an initiative designed to eliminate technical trade barriers, enhance product competitiveness, and increase access to international markets, especially the United Kingdom.
The program is a collaborative effort between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and key Nigerian trade and regulatory institutions, aiming to drive sustainable growth by aligning Nigerian exports with global standards. It particularly targets micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), agribusinesses, and local manufacturers seeking to expand their reach beyond African borders.
At the launch event, it was revealed that no fewer than 3,500 Nigerian products now enjoy zero tariff import duties into the UK through the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme, a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses to gain a foothold in premium global markets.
Organized by the Standards Partnership and the British Standards Institution (BSI), the event also aimed to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC), reinforce the implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy, and enhance the institutional capacity of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian National Accreditation body.
The UK-Nigeria Standards Partnership, first launched in 2023 in 11 countries and island regions, was developed to support inclusive and sustainable trade growth through the use of internationally recognised standards and measurement systems.
In his welcome address, Dr. Osita Aboloma, Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Quality Council, described the program as a strategic inflection point for Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
“This program offers a strategic pathway to elevate Nigeria’s export readiness,” Aboloma stated. “It will facilitate smoother import and export processes between Nigeria and the UK, while contributing to economic growth, job creation, and improved social welfare.”
He further explained, “The Standards Partnership Programme is a joint effort between the UK Government, through the FCDO, and the National Quality Council of Nigeria. It is implemented by the British Standards Institution, with a focus on strengthening the pillars of Nigeria’s national quality infrastructure, standards, conformity assessment, metrology, and accreditation, for greater efficiency and long-term sustainability.”
Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK High Commission, highlighted one of the program’s key outcomes, the institutionalization of metrology, the science of measurement, as a vital component of trade competitiveness and market access.
As Nigeria seeks to deepen trade ties with the UK and attract more British investment across various sectors, this third phase of the Standards Partnership is expected to provide a long-term platform for strengthening quality systems, enhancing trust in Nigerian exports, and opening new doors for MSMEs across Africa, aiming to trade on the global stage.
