‘3,500 Nigerian goods enjoy zero duties to UK’
‘3,500 Nigerian goods enjoy zero duties to UK’
Nigeria and the UK Deepen Trade Ties with Launch of Standards Partnership Phase III
Nigeria’s efforts to enhance its export capabilities have been significantly strengthened with the official launch of the third phase of the UK-Nigeria Standards Partnership Programme. This technical cooperation initiative aims to eliminate trade barriers, improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products, and increase access to the UK market—especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agribusinesses, and manufacturers.
At the launch event, it was revealed that over 3,500 Nigerian products currently benefit from zero-tariff import dutiesunder the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme. This policy shift is expected to create more opportunities for Nigerian businesses to access premium international markets.
The programme is a collaboration between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC), with implementation support from the British Standards Institution (BSI). It seeks to enhance Nigeria’s national quality infrastructure by supporting standards development, accreditation systems, and metrology (the science of measurement), which are essential for maintaining product quality and facilitating international trade.
Chairman and CEO of the NQC, Ostia Aboloma, described the partnership as a “turning point” for Nigeria’s trade ecosystem. He emphasized that the initiative will not only smoothen import and export processes but also promote economic growth, job creation, and social welfare.
Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK High Commission, highlighted the programme’s success in embedding metrology as a key driver of trade competitiveness.
Overall, the Standards Partnership Programme represents a strategic move to align Nigeria’s trade practices with global standards, making its exports more competitive and opening doors to expanded trade relations with the UK and beyond.
