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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
Nigeria is set to save millions of dollars in foreign exchange following the global accreditation and recognition of the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NINAS), a development that finally allows Nigerian export test results and quality certificates to be accepted in more than 140 countries.
The milestone, announced recently in Abuja, is being celebrated as a major breakthrough that will slash the cost of compliance for exporters, eliminate foreign retesting, and boost the competitiveness of Nigerian products in global markets.
The achievement comes after NINAS secured international recognition under the African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement, as well as global bodies, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
Until now, many Nigerian manufacturers and food exporters were forced to send samples to Europe for expensive conformity assessments, draining scarce foreign exchange and slowing export processes.
With this global approval, Nigerian laboratories, inspection bodies and certification bodies accredited by NINAS will now issue certificates recognised across the world.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Quality Council (NQC), Osita Aboloma, described the development as a major victory for Nigeria’s economy and a boost to President Bola Tinubu’s diversification agenda.
He said the new status will end the era when exporters spent millions of naira and dollars seeking duplicate assessments in Norway, the Netherlands and other countries simply to meet international standards.
According to him, the acceptance of Nigerian-issued certificates will cut costs, eliminate delays and open doors for thousands of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) struggling to penetrate foreign markets.
Aboloma noted that the breakthrough is the result of years of reforms under the Nigerian National Quality Policy, which seeks to build a globally aligned system covering standardisation, metrology, accreditation and market surveillance.
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He said the benefits will be felt most strongly in the non-oil export sector, especially among food processors, agricultural producers and small manufacturers routinely confronted with stringent foreign requirements.
“This recognition means that if a Nigerian lab is accredited by NINAS, the accreditation will be recognised all over the world. It will save the country millions of dollars in foreign exchange which exporters and manufacturers previously spent in countries like Norway and the Netherlands for compliance assessments,” Aboloma said.
Director-General of NINAS, Celestine Okanya, said the recognition positions Nigeria among a select group of eight countries in Africa with such internationally accepted accreditation systems.
Okanya explained that the development directly tackles the longstanding problem of export rejections, especially in Europe, where products tested in non-accredited labs are often retested or rejected outright.
He explained that certificates issued by NINAS-accredited bodies will now be accepted in over 140 countries, dramatically improving the export prospects of Nigerian products.
The DG stressed that while he cannot promise zero rejection, compliance with accredited testing and certification will drastically reduce the current rate.
He added that the new global status gives Nigerian exporters a level playing field and prevents foreign authorities from sidelining locally certified products.
Also speaking, the UK’s Director of Trade Policy and Market Access for Africa, Hannah Barbosa, described the recognition as a “game changer” that will reduce technical barriers to trade, boost investor confidence and expand Nigeria’s opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“International recognition of NINAS under AFRAC, ILAC and IAF frameworks will reduce technical barriers to trade, enhance investor confidence and unlock opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” she said.
The UK government played a significant role in the achievement through the UK–Nigeria Standards Partnership Programme implemented by the British Standards Institution (BSI), with support from the FCDO and the UK Department for Business and Trade.
