The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to boosting trade and economic growth through the implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy (NNQP).
In a statement on Monday, the British Mission announced that this initiative is part of Phase II of the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP). Officially launched in June 2024 at the African Organization for Standards (ARSO) General Assembly in Abuja, the programme aims to eliminate technical trade barriers, enhance regulatory compliance, and improve export competitiveness.
“The programme is implemented by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in partnership with Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC),” the statement said. Operating under the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the SPP is designed to establish a strong quality infrastructure focused on standardisation, accreditation, and conformity assessment.
Additionally, the programme supports inspection, testing, and metrology services to boost export capacity between both countries, attract investment, and enhance trade efficiency in line with global standards.
The mission revealed that stakeholders from both public and private sectors participated in the NNQP Matrix Implementation Training-of-Trainers Workshop in Lagos and Abuja. Discussions centered on capacity building for quality compliance and the role of metrology in ensuring accurate measurement, calibration, and certification of goods.
George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, underscored the importance of a strong national quality infrastructure, stating that improvements in 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 (NQC), stressed the importance of stakeholder collaboration in achieving Nigeria’s quality and trade objectives, noting that a robust quality infrastructure would support economic growth and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian products.
Dr. Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade, reiterated Britain’s commitment to Nigeria’s economic diversification, emphasizing that both nations remain strategic partners in trade and investment.
“By improving Nigeria’s national quality infrastructure, we are unlocking new opportunities for innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth,” Umukoro said.
Source: Swifteradio.com
