Nigeria’s export drive received a significant boost on Thursday with the official unveiling of the third phase of the UK-Nigeria Standards Partnership Programme — a technical cooperation initiative aimed at removing trade barriers, improving product quality, and expanding access to international markets, particularly the United Kingdom.
The programme, developed in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, brought together key Nigerian enterprises and government stakeholders to enhance trade flows and accelerate economic growth.
An official at the event disclosed that over 3,500 Nigerian products currently enjoy zero-tariff import duties into the UK through the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) — a transformative opportunity for local manufacturers, agribusinesses, and SMEs seeking entry into high-value international markets.
The event also served as a platform to reinforce technical collaboration with the National Quality Council, facilitate implementation of Nigeria’s National Quality Policy, and bolster the institutional capacity of regulatory bodies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Accreditation Service.
The Standards Partnership Programme is expected to significantly raise the competitiveness of Nigerian exports by ensuring adherence to international standards, thereby making local products more acceptable to foreign buyers.
