Aleke Aleke in Abuja
The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations and economic growth through the implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy (NNQP) under the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP) – Phase II.
A statement by Senior Press & Public Affairs Officer, Comms Lead, Prosperity and Economic Development, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, British Deputy High Commission, Lagos, Ndidiamaka Eze, said
this partnership aims to eliminate technical trade barriers, improve regulatory compliance, and promote export competitiveness.
Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring quality-driven economic growth, stating, “A strong National Quality Infrastructure is essential for Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.”
Akume added that the SPP Programme, implemented by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in partnership with Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC), aims to deliver a robust quality infrastructure focused on improving standardization, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing, and metrology services.
This, he said will boost UK/Nigeria’s export capacity, attract investment, and enhance trade efficiency aligned with global standards.
Osita Aboloma, Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Quality Council (NQC), welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that stakeholder collaboration is crucial in achieving Nigeria’s quality and trade goals.
He said the partnership is expected to unlock new opportunities to drive innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth for both nations.
Dr. Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead of the UK Department for Business and Trade, reiterated the UK’s unwavering support for Nigeria’s economic diversification and trade enhancement efforts, saying, “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.”