Nigeria appreciates UK’s support in achieving rapid economic advancement

 

The Nigerian government has expressed appreciation for the United Kingdom’s support in achieving rapid economic advancement.

Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), stated this at the National Quality Policy (NNQP) Matrix Implementation Training-of-Trainers Workshop held in Abuja and Lagos respectively.

The two workshops titled “The Sustainable Provision of Metrology Services in Nigeria,” was organized by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC).

The collaboration forms part of  the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP) – Phase II.

Led by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC), housed under the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the SPP seeks to establish a solid quality framework.

This framework focuses on advancing standardization, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing, and metrology services.

The goal is to amplify UK-Nigeria export potential, draw investment, and streamline trade in line with international benchmarks.

At the Abuja workshop, Akume stated that the Federal Government was desirous of revamping the nation’s economic sectors so that wholesale development could be achieved within a short time.

He said this commitment is underscored by the ongoing economic recovery and rebound.

“A robust National Quality Infrastructure is vital for diversifying Nigeria’s economy,” he stated.

“By refining our standards, metrology, and accreditation systems, we can expand non-oil exports, generate employment, and bolster the naira. This collaboration with the UK marks significant progress toward these ambitions.”

Partnership

Dr. Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade, reaffirmed the UK’s steadfast commitment to Nigeria’s economic diversification and trade goals, in line with the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP).

“The UK and Nigeria are key partners in trade and investment,” he said.

“Strengthening Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure opens doors to innovation, competitiveness, and shared economic growth.”

Osita Aboloma, Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Quality Council (NQC), welcomed the initiative, emphasising that stakeholder collaboration is crucial in achieving Nigeria’s quality and trade goals.

“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,” he opined.

The workshop brought together public and private sector players.

Discussions centered on building expertise in quality compliance and the critical role of metrology in ensuring precise measurement, calibration, and certification of goods.

It spotlighted the need for data-driven quality policies, with metrology, accreditation, conformity assessments, inspections, and testing seen as cornerstones for aligning Nigerian exports with global standards.

Economic Factsheet

The UK and Nigeria share a long-standing trade relationship, with Nigeria serving as the UK’s 38th trading partner.

According to the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), trade volume between Nigeria and the UK, stood at £7.5 billion for the four quarters leading to the end of Q3 2024 with a 5.6% increase (£397 million) compared to Q3 2023.

Therefore, the SPP collaboration aims to increase UK/Nigeria exports by aligning industrial and machinery standards, while Improving regulatory cooperation in line with the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP).

The UK government has supported Nigeria’s role as the Digital Trade Champion under AfCFTA, leveraging quality infrastructure to expand regional and global trade.

Since the SPP programme launch, it is significantly strengthening Nigeria’s quality infrastructure ecosystem through key legislative, standardisation, and accreditation support.

As the programme progresses, both nations remain committed to advancing trade competitiveness, regulatory efficiency, and industrial growth, which will lay the foundation for sustainable economic growth between the UK and Nigeria.